Vitamin D vs broad spectrum phototherapy in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder
by
Gloth FM 3rd, Alam W, Hollis B
The Department of Medicine,
The Union Memorial Hospital,
Baltimore,
Maryland 21218-2895, USA.
J Nutr Health Aging 1999; 3(1):5-7

ABSTRACT

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is prevalent when vitamin D stores are typically low. Broad-spectrum light therapy includes wavelengths between 280-320 nm which allow the skin to produce vitamin D. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency might play a role in SAD. A prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted in a group of 15 subjects with SAD. Eight subjects received 100,000 I.U. of vitamin D and seven subjects received phototherapy. At the onset of treatment and after 1 month of therapy subjects were administered the Hamilton Depression scale, the SIGH-SAD, and the SAD-8 depression scale. All subjects also had serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH D) measured before and 1 week after intervention therapy. All subjects receiving vitamin D improved in all outcome measures. The phototherapy group showed no significant change in depression scale measures. Vitamin D status improved in both groups (74% vitamin D group, p < 0.005 and 36% phototherapy group, p < 0.01). Improvement in 25-OH D was significantly associated with improvement in depression scale scores (r2=0.26; p=0.05). Vitamin D may be an important treatment for SAD. Further studies will be necessary to confirm these findings.

B6
SAD
Melatonin
Tryptophan
Body clocks
Hypersomnia
Light therapy
Natural drugs
Food and mood
Winter depression
Vitamins and mood
SAD and negative ions
Mood, food and cognition

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