According to a recent study, a daily dose of vitamin D may help people in northern climates better combat the long winter.
Researchers from Loyola University’s Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing (MNSON) found that the nutrient can help lift mood during the winter months when days are short and access to sunlight is at a premium.
"Vitamin D deficiency continues to be a problem despite the nutrient’s widely reported health benefits," said Sue Penckofer, professor at MNSON. "[Northern] winters compound this issue when more people spend time away from sunlight, which is a natural source of vitamin D."
Loyola researchers plan to take their vitamin D study a step further by assessing whether supplementation with the nutrient can improve blood sugar and mood in women suffering from diabetes. They state that there is evidence to suggest that vitamin D may decrease insulin resistance, which has been linked to depression in previous studies.
It has been proven that women tend to have poorer blood sugar control and greater rates of anxiety than men with diabetes.
Recent studies have also found that vitamin D may provide protection from high blood pressure and several autoimmune diseases.
