Vitamin D can help you tide over a bleak winter

Washington, March 9 : A daily dose of vitamin D may just be what helps you tide over a long, bleak winter when you are mostly indoors, says new research.

"Vitamin D deficiency continues to be a problem despite the nutrient's widely reported health benefits," said Sue Penckofer, professor, Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing (MNSON), who led the study.

Diet alone may not be sufficient to manage vitamin D levels. A combination of adequate dietary intake of vitamin D, exposure to sunlight, and treatment with vitamin D2 or D3 supplements can decrease the risk of certain health concerns.

Depression is associated with increased insulin resistance, so people with diabetes have a greater risk for the disease than those without depression. Women also tend to have greater rates of depression and poorer blood sugar control than men with diabetes.

"There is evidence to suggest that vitamin D supplementation may decrease insulin resistance," said Penckofer.

"If we can stabilize insulin levels, we may be able to simply and cost effectively improve blood sugar control and reduce symptoms of depression for these women."

Loyola faculty members plan to take vitamin D research a step further by evaluating whether weekly vitamin D supplements improve blood sugar control and mood in women with diabetes.

"Vitamin D has widespread benefits for our health and certain chronic diseases in particular," Penckofer said.