Many people are suffering from depression today and may not know the cause. A lot of people may be to embarrassed to discuss their depression. Depression can be mild at first and then become manic. Some individuals may find that spending time outside in the sun will help ease it. The sun helps our body produce vitamin D, which is also known as the sunshine vitamin.

Studies have shown that low levels of vitamin D are linked to depression and related signs and symptoms. They have suggested that increasing vitamin D from the sun had the potential of being an effective, inexpensive therapy for depression.

Lack of the vitamin continues to lead to age-related disorder's which range from osteoporosis, high blood pressure and heart problems to periodontal illness, cancer, as well as autoimmune disease. Lower levels of the supplement has shown to effect ones mood, cause depression and mood swings.

Studies have also shown where there was a powerful relationship between depression and low blood counts of vitamin D in groups of people age 65 and older. Changes in mood associated with depression are one of the primary signs and symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.

Lack of vitamin D has been proven to be 14% less on average in people who had been suffering from moderate depression than people who were not.

Other studies measured levels of the parathyroid hormone in the bloodstream, which increases when bloodstream levels of vitamin D are too small. This is significantly greater in individuals who display symptoms of depression as well as cognitive disorders. Individuals who experience major depressive disorders had parathyroid levels a third higher than the ones from non-depressed individuals.

The human body's ability to generate vitamin D declines with age. This can result in a reduction in calcium assimilation. It has always been understood that small calcium absorption increases the chance of bone-weakening illnesses like osteoporosis, however it has recently been found that low calcium supplement's can increase the probability of depression too. With regards to older women, estrogen levels additionally decrease with age. Reduced estrogen levels can effect calcium supplement absorption.

Further studies showed the relationship between vitamin D insufficiency and mood disorders within post-menopausal women, however it was considered to be worth focusing on younger women as well. Calcium and vitamin D helped control the particular mood-related signs and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome within younger women, considerably reducing signs and symptoms like tearfulness, stress and irritability. As we can see from these studies, vitamin D can help eliminate symptoms of depression and may be part of the cause of your depression.