There seems to be a lot of talk about Vitamin D deficiency lately, particularly in relation to brain disorders.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve always associated vitamin D with healthy bones, but really, it is important for good overall health. Vitamin D helps our hearts, muscles, lungs, and brains work well. Unlike other vitamins, most vitamin D does not come from what we eat, but rather from our exposure to the sun (and possibly from supplements).<\/p>\n
Another unique characteristic of vitamin D is the fact that our bodies turn it into a hormone called \u201cactivated vitamin D\u201d or \u201ccalcitriol.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of the areas in which vitamin D is known to be helpful include:<\/p>\n
In this study published in July 2017, researchers looked at the vitamin D levels and cognitive function in patients who experienced psychosis. They found an association between low levels of vitamin D and decreased processing speed and verbal fluency. The authors suggested the next step should be randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation in those with psychosis and vitamin D deficiency.<\/p>\n