New US Vit D research

References for this new Vitamin D research Vitamin D and Risk for Type 2 Diabetes in People With Prediabetes, Vitamin D supplementation and incident dementia: Effects of sex, APOE, and baseline cognitive status The association between vitamin D serum levels, supplementation, and suicide attempts and intentional self-harm Results N = 981,770 veterans 490,885 treated 490,885 controls Unadjusted suicide attempt and self-harm rate % in the control population % in the treated population Vitamin D3 supplementation, associated with a 48% lower risk of suicide attempt and self-harm Vitamin D2 supplementation, associated with a 45% lower risk of suicide attempt and self-harm Supplemented black veterans ~64% lower risk relative to controls Supplemented Veterans with 0–19 ng/ml ~64% lower risk relative to controls Supplementation with higher vitamin D dosages Associated with greater risk reductions than lower dosages As vitamin D levels increased, the proportion of veterans experiencing suicide attempts and self-harm, declined in the control groups and stayed relatively fixed in the treated groups. Conclusions Oral vitamin D is associated with a suicide attempt and intentional self-harm risk reduction of approximately 45%-48%. Supplementation with higher daily dosages of vitamin D3 was associated with lower suicide attempt and self-harm risk than supplementation with lower dosages. Further, the associated risk reduction in suicide attempt and self-harm was more significant among Black veterans receiving supplementation with Vitamin D than white veterans, among whom low Vitamin D serum levels are more common than among White veterans. As a relatively safe, easily accessible, and affordable medication, supplementation with vitamin D in the VA may hold promise if confirmed in clinical trials to prevent suicide attempts and suicide. Associations between Vitamin D supplementation 40 UI to 50,000 UI per day 25(OH) blood serum levels Suicide attempts, and intentional self-harm Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) A retrospective cohort study of US Veterans supplemented with Vitamin D. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), or Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), fill between 2010 and 2018 Matched 1:1 to untreated control veterans Analyses were repeated in stratified samples Associations by race (Black or White) Gender (male or female) Blood levels 0–19 ng/ml 20–39 ng/ml 40 ng/ml and average daily dosage Further information Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are prevalent in the US More than 30% of US military members have been shown to have 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)] levels below 20ng/ml (deficient) Vitamin deficiency is particularly prevalent among service members of color and males Servicemembers and veterans also have elevated suicide attempt and suicide rates Vitamin D deficiency, associated with depression, fatigue, mood changes (e.g., hopelessness and sadness), suicidal thoughts, anxiety, changes in appetite and weight, insomnia, and forgetfulness (obesity, schizophrenia, and seasonal affective disorder) Vitamin D receptors are located in areas of the brain involved in developing depression, including the hippocampus and hypothalamus Adjuvant treatment of depression with vitamin D supplementation has been recommended Toxicity has been shown to occur only at doses above 60,000 IU daily over several weeks, Potentially greater effectiveness of D3