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Does vitamin D raise serotonin?

Vitamin D helps encourage serotonin production and release. If you're not getting enough vitamin D, taking a supplement may help reduce symptoms related to low serotonin levels, but check with your doctor before beginning supplementation.

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Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that acts on nearly all of the brain's cells, influencing mood, sleep, appetite and many other brain and biological functions. Low serotonin levels may contribute to depression, which is why antidepressants that raise serotonin levels can help people diagnosed with depression. Vitamin D helps encourage serotonin production and release. If you're not getting enough vitamin D, taking a supplement may help reduce symptoms related to low serotonin levels, but check with your doctor before beginning supplementation.

Serotonin Production

Your body makes serotonin from tryptophan, which is found in high-protein foods like meat and poultry. Vitamin D supplements don't contain tryptophan, so they won't directly cause your body to make more serotonin. They may still help individuals with low serotonin, however, because the vitamin acts as a hormone that helps release neurotransmitters, including serotonin. Though blood serotonin levels can be measured, levels of the neurotransmitter in the brain cannot, so research regarding what role vitamins and nutrients play on brain levels is limited.

Vitamin D and Depression

Low vitamin D levels have been shown to correlate with depression. It's unknown whether low vitamin D levels can cause depression or if depression lowers vitamin D levels, but taking vitamin D may help alleviate symptoms. A study published in "Molecular Psychiatry" in April 2013 found that participants with low vitamin D levels were more likely to have a depressive disorder. A small study published in 2004 in "Nutrition Journal" found that people who took high doses of vitamin D reported higher well-being scores after two months.

Vitamin D Deficiencies

Vitamin D deficiencies are common because most people wear sunscreen regularly. Even wearing a sunscreen as low as SPF 8 can inhibit your body from producing vitamin D, according to Dr. Dale Archer in an article for "Psychology Today." This doesn't mean you should toss your sunscreen, but it does make it harder to get enough of the vitamin. Talk to your doctor about ordering a blood test to check your vitamin D levels if you think you have a deficiency. Some people with deficiencies need a much higher dose of vitamin D than what is available in over-the-counter supplements. It can take several months for your vitamin D levels to return to normal if you have a deficiency.

Vitamin D Intake

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Why do I have so much anxiety for no reason?

Anxiety can be caused by a variety of things: stress, genetics, brain chemistry, traumatic events, or environmental factors. Symptoms can be reduced with anti-anxiety medication. But even with medication, people may still experience some anxiety or even panic attacks.

Laura was worried all the time and she didn’t know why. Her job was going great, she had a good relationship with her boyfriend, and had a close circle of friends. Still, she was always restless and watchful, and a feeling of dread followed her everywhere she went. Driving on the highway was the worst of all. One evening she was driving home when she was startled by a police car turning on its lights and sirens behind her. Her heart raced, her palms were sweaty, and the steering wheel was hard to hold on to. She was sure she was going to die. But she put on her hazard lights and managed to pull onto the shoulder as the police car passed her by. She had a full-blown panic attack right there—and vowed never to drive on the highway again. Her mother told her to try talking to a therapist. After a few sessions, the therapist got Laura to remember the first time she had anxiety—it happened while driving home from a friend’s funeral. “Everything in my life is going fine,” Laura said. “Why would I start remembering this now?” “That’s exactly why,” the therapist said. “You’re in a safe position in life, so unresolved feelings start to bubble up. It’s like our bodies know we can now handle facing them. But we feel attacked, anxious, or in danger, even though we are actually safe and sound.” Perplexed but encouraged, Laura started going to therapy twice a week and got a prescription for anti-anxiety medication. She was determined to get to the bottom of her mysterious anxiety that seemed to come and go without cause.

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