Seasonal Affective Disorder Support Group

I have read this as well. Apparently the only time of year that you actually get the proper amount if sun that you need is between June and Sept. Unless of course you live somewhere sunny ...which I don't. I have a SAD light therapy machine SAD light therapy machine and I love it ! but I do recommend getting tested to see where your Vitamin D levels are at.

Cheers
Lexy

I have wondered about this. I try to spend time outside in the fall and winter months, but if the problem is vitamin D deficiency, it does not help any because I am all bundled up with long sleeves and pants. I don't suppose the little bit of sun exposure I get on my face and hands (if just my face if I an wearing gloves!) does much good.

It also depends on where you live. The further north you go, the longer period of time you go without UVB sunlight during fall through spring. You need UVB to produce vitamin D in the skin. UVB is at its strongest during the summer but bad air pollution can prevent UVB from reaching you. UVA can get through. It's responsible for tanning and burning of skin. Usually 5,000 IU a day during winter is sufficient. Nothing at all in the summer if you spend a lot of time outside but sunblock lotion can stop vitamin D production though. Best time is to go outside at lunch time and have a lunch for 20-30 minutes without sunblock but I can see that it can be very uncomfortable in the hot summers in parts of USA.

it says to get in the sun 10 min let it shine on ur bare top 1/2 thisa will be enough vitamin d3 daily needs...then it states that to much can make you toxic...yes though vitamin d or d3 can help with lack on light..but i never see much on the sad part .its always saying about immune system or calcium..they call it the sunshine med..i hear alot of people on d.s. use it but i never hear any good things..all i ever hear is about a light box therpy 5000,- 10,000 lux lighting..30 min am 30 min pm..also another med is melatonin for sleep to regulate the inner circadian clock.also helps with sad!!

I took Vitamin D last fall/winter and it really seemed to help. My doctor did test my level prior to starting and it was indeed low! I stopped it over the summer as I was outside a whole lot, but now that the gray skies are back, I think I am going to get back on it :)

Jimgreg,

You do NOT get toxicity from vitamin D being in the sun at all. It is self-regulated. After all, we've been around for millions of years mostly at equator of earth where we got UVB round year. Over time we slowly moved toward north pole or south pole resulting lighter and lighter skin to adapt weaker UVB sunlight for vitamin D production. Now, we have the abilities to go anywhere in the world within hours.

melatonin helps but that's only fixing the symptom, not underlying cause. Fixing underlying cause will fix a lot of things. Start with vitamin D....

I had severe fibro pain and SAD. I found out that my vit D level was only 17 ng /mL which is barely detectable (detection cut-off is 10 ng/mL.) Normal vit D levels should be 60-100. I then started 4000 IU vit D + 1000 mg flax oil for 2 months, was retested and found to be at 68 ng/mL. My pain is much less severe! I was surprised that I would have a vit D deficiency. When I was originally tested, I just got back from spending a month in sunny southern FL. I do not wear sunscreen because I don't tan or burn. I have been a sun-worshiper my whole life. I now take 2000 IU vit D per day + use a SAD lamp, Nature Bright. I love the lamp! I definitely have more energy and feel less depressed with it. However, I will still be avoiding part of the Chicago winter in Panama. Having the proper level of nutrients is very important regarding how we feel. Vit D acts more like a hormone than a vitamin in some ways.

I've started using Vitamin D supplements rather than anti-depressants and feel so much better. I've used light therapy for fifteen years; for several years my doctor also recommended Wellbutrin, which I tried, but didn't like the side-effects. I live in northern Alberta (Canada) and during the depths of winter what sunlight we get is ineffective. I still get out as much as possible during the winter (x country skiing, ice fishing), other-wise I go shack wacky as well as depressed! Even though the sunshine value is minimal, the psychological boost of being outdoors and active is important.

I have been taking vitamin D3 supplements (1000 IU) for a few weeks now. Seems to be working. I have been much better than I normally am at this time of the year.

MaybeIcan-

1000 IU a day at the time of the year isn't very much. I'm taking 6,000 IU a day mainly because I started late so I need to build up vitamin D level right away. A lot of Scientists D feel that 10,000 IU is the upper limit so I'm not all that worried about. They think 5,000 IU is about what we need to take during the winter. Maybe half during fall and spring and nothing in summer but of course it depends on where we live.

Of course, the only way to find out is to get blood test done but it takes knowledge to know how much to take without needing blood test which can cost much more than vitamin D supplement alone. It costs 45-125$ to get blood test done while vitamin D supplement cost 10 dollars for two people during the winter for us. It's not rocket science and you can't really overdose it that way.