Adults who don’t get enough vitamin D have already been proven to be more likely to suffer depression. However, a new study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry has shown that children with insufficient vitamin D levels may also show signs of being depressed.

Researchers who have been tracking the health of 14,500 children since they were born in the early '90s were the ones who discovered the connection. Using the resources already at their disposal, they looked at over 2,700 children who were nine years and eight months old and discovered that those who had higher levels of vitamin D were 10 percent less likely to display depressive symptoms when they were 13 years and eight months old. They also learned that those with higher levels of vitamin D were more likely to experience a decrease in depressive symptoms between the ages 10 and a half and 13 and eight months.

While there are two variants of vitamin D supplements available (D2 and D3), the study has identified vitamin D3 as the supplement that does the work. Still, this doesn’t mean that vitamin D is the ultimate solution to depression. Without evidence from "randomized controlled trials," the study authors say that their findings can’t be used to change nutritional policy. A lot more research needs to be done in that field.

And while you should still seek the advice of a professional in helping your child deal with depression, it can’t hurt to have him or her eat more foods that are rich in vitamin D either. Tuna, in particular, is a very rich source of this nutrient.


For more on depression, check out these articles:

• Depression Increases Your Likelihood of Contracting Heart Disease
• Kids with Depressed Dads More Likely to Have Behavioral Issues
• 5 Symptoms of Depression
• New Study: Supermoms Run Greater Risk of Depression
• Down to One: Depression Stories by Dr. Margarita Go-Singco Holmes
• 5 Ways to Check If a Friend is in a Depression Danger Zone

(Photo by doriana_s via sxc.hu)