FIR Episode 46: Vitamin D for IBS, sleep and depression.

We’re diving deeper into Vitamin D in this Free and Inspired Radio episode. 

We all know it is for bone health, but what about IBS, depression, sleep and protection from viral infections?

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in Hong Kong. 

Mainly due to the climate, estimates are between sixty to seventy per cent of Hong Kong residents are deficient.

This prevalence is important. Vitamin D inadequacy links to higher levels of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. 

But what about viral infections?

Find out about the research limitation regarding Vitamin D and the prevention of infections. For example, the latest studies show that those who supplement daily might have better protection than those who take it less frequently.

A meta-analysis published in the British Medical Journal found that people who were very deficient at the time of the study benefitted the most, as well as those who supplemented daily or weekly.

Vitamin D is also critical for digestion and the brain.

For example, one study published in 2016 found that supplementation changed the balance of bacteria in the stomach and small intestine.

Learn more about how it works with the immune system in the gut lining to maintain a positive and healthy environment within the digestive system.

It does something similar in the brain too.

For example, low levels are associated with depression, anxiety and poor sleep 

Learn more about how correcting Vitamin D levels can help create more melatonin naturally and even help with anxiety.

For example, a study looking into generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) found supplementation has positive effects on GAD symptoms over three months.

All this and more in this Free and Inspired radio episode.