Vitamin D Supplements Continue to Be Unnecessary

There are several news studies that confirm what we've been saying for years. Vitamin D supplements don't do much, and are unnecessary for just about everybody.

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Credits:
John Green -- Executive Producer
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Aaron Carroll -- Writer
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[TakeWalker]

I've never heard anyone suggest D was good for cardiovascular health until right now. What's the research on its effects on mood and depression? That's what I'm really interested in.

[phyliciagordon]

I've only ever been advised to take vitamin D to help with low energy and depression, can you talk about the research on this use case?

[butternutsquash]

Aaron, you still have not discussed the vitamin's role in depression, which MANY people have had it prescribed. Saying that "it isn't helping anyone" is misleading. Your cited research talks about elderly people and two types of outcome, not the spectrum of common uses or why a person would self select this supplement, which IS seasonal depression. Please cover the use of Vitamin D for depression.

[dmelo]

Could you talk about the cases where vitamin D ARE beneficial?

[brandybarnett]

If you re deficient, it helps A LOT. I was and I was miserable. I think the idea of one size fits all medicine does not work.

[leosidenslife]

What about during the cold, dark winter in Scandinavia?

[em]

Could you please add your study references to the show notes below the video? Thanks, I can’t really understand the validity of the study if I don’t have dosage and pre and post serum levels and or the general information of subject demographics. I think you mentioned that one of the studies involved average age 65 and older. Do you think that’s an adequate demo if they only supplemented for a year and most of the diseases being measured start in your 30s over decades of abuse

[ChadMojito]

This is super weird. 95% of the times, Vitamin D is prescribed to prevent seasonal depression and other mood disorders. Literally never heard of it being used for heart problems before this video. Kind of a pointless useless study, it seems.

[brucestein]

Diabetic, Hypothyroid, low energy and feeling awful. Head of Endocrinology at local university medical school ran tests, and vitamin D showed low. Ordered me to take Vit D. supplement, D went back to normal range and I went back to "normal." The video makes it sound like you are against anyone taking Vit. D supplements for any reason, and could dissuade folks who should be taking the supplement (on medical advice) from taking it. I think you should have mentioned these circumstances and that there are situations/conditions not included in the tests wherein Vitamin D supplements are appropriate.

[TinyMedicine]

Agreed. Even calcium supplements (including all the milk powders) are useless for vast majority. Calcium is only needed when you have a deficiency. Companies have exaggerated what supplements can do.

[Hazie]

I'm on Vitamin D and it literally took me from a whacked out zombie with horrendous SAD as I don't naturally produce my own vitamin D very well, to a functional person who doesn't need antidepressants anymore. I've never heard any links between Vit D and cardiovascular health, and that's fairly poignant considering I have a variety of cardiovascular-related conditions!

[aaecarro]

Hey everyone:
1) I do read the comments. :)
2) I hear you that many of you take Vitamin D for depression and/or other mental health issues. Such decisions are between you and your health care providers, of course.
3) I also hear many of you asking for us to tackle that issue. Here's the thing - Healthcare Triage episodes, and especially News episodes, usually need a hook of research. There are a few systematic reviews on the topic of depression and Vitamin D, but they conflict with each other, mainly because the studies - the few of them that exist- are flawed or very small. The meta-analyses that I cite in this episode, for example, include RCTs that total in the many tens of thousands of people for both CVD and musculoskeletal health. Such data simply do not exist for depression or mental health. Should a big, well-done trial emerge, we will be sure to cover it.
4) The "main reason to take" Vitamin D shifts with time. Sometimes it's "good for bones". Sometimes it's "good for your heart". When the reason keeps changing, as data for that reason don't support it, well... we've seen that before with lots of things.
5) Doctors are human, just like everyone else. They disagree all the time, and not all are right all of the time. Everyone should question their priors once in a while.

[matemarijan]

How much vitamin D did they supplement and in what form? What about depression, immune function?

[sohailmunir]

For those who want a more complete picture. Vitamin D supplementation is a part of Multiple Sclerosis treatment. So it does play a role in immunological defense. The risk of overdosing on Vitamin D is very difficult as the body produces 10, 000 iu from 30 min of sunlight after which the body reaches a limit of endogenous production while most supplement are 1000 iu or 2000 iu. Taking Vitamin D is not going to affect CV system (no biochemical pathway) but does play a large role in immune system because Vitamin is the only vitamin that is a pro-hormone. That is why doctors believe MS is more common at higher latitudes. As always talk to your doctor because one thing that is not mentioned is research findings are NOT a checklist for clinical practice. They should inform them and ideally be congruent but a physician and other providers should use their clinical judgement to treat patients.

[fraserlamb]

I have literally never heard it suggested that Vit D is good for anything other than mental health. Seems a bit irresponsibly to call it worthless when so many see huge improvements to their mood when taking it.

[Scixxy]

I've been prescribed D for mood and depression. That use never seems to come up in the studies.

[whychoooseausername]

At 65, one's biggest problem isn't vit D. Looking at the associations of vitamin D deficiency in a longitudinal cohort would be more informative then a randomised control trial where patients are already sick.

[ballinhamster]

I’m really disappointed you’re making this video again. Take a look at the comments. Nobody here is taking vitamin D at 65 years old to help with their heart disease. However, many people live in cold, rainy climates, and stay inside most of the day. Call up a doctor where I live in the Pacific Northwest and they’ll tell you how big of a problem vitamin D deficiency can be, and what it can actually cause. Multiple doctors have been _surprised_ when they see I tested in normal levels. That’s before I tell them I take 5000 IU a day most of the year.

[michelelentnermaxwell]

What about supplements during pregnancy? My midwife started me on vitamin D and magnesium, along with my prenatal. I switch to an obgyn and they want me to add vitamin k2 to my routine.
After having numerous doctors not see the point in taking supplements, it's odd being recommended to take a cocktail of pills.

A video on supplements during pregnancy would be great!

[lightlord]

I am stuck at home due to the cornavirus spread, no sunlight ever. I am sure in cases like me, vitamin D supplement is better then nothing.