Does Vitamin D deficiency cause any mental problems?

[Septerra]

Does having Vitamin D deficiency contribute to depression or anxiety at all?

[rheanna]

Septerra,

I have read that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a result of lower levels of Vitamin D in the winter. I used to be depressed every winter even in sunny central California. Then we moved to northern Germany 12 years ago. Not only are we further north than we were in California, but the weather here is mostly depressively oppressively grey. Overcast and grey. Rainy and grey. Did I mention grey? Grey.

I started going into depression earlier and earlier every year. One year I didn't come out of it until August, and I had been contemplating suicide. Then I read about Vitamin D. I started taking 1500 I.E. of Vitamin D3 (Colecalciferol) per day, all year. I have not had SAD since. This winter is particularly grey, and I've upped my dosage to 2000 I.E. per day.

--Rheanna

[Tranquillity]

People claim it can affect and/or cause all kinds of mental problems. Anxiety, depression, psychosis, you name it.