There is a Link between Low Vitamin D and Teen Psychosis. Psychosis, or the condition when one loses the ability to be in touch with reality is heart-wrenching to see. If it is your child experiencing this, it is nearly unbearable.
Studies* done on Teen Psychosis found that 38% of the teens had vitamin D levels between 20 – 30 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) and 34% had levels lower than 20 ng/ml with the rest being within normal range. Studies also found that if a teen had a low vitamin D level they were 4x more likely to have a psychotic episode.
If you remember in my last article What is your Vitamin D Level? that for minimal health your Vitamin D level should be no lower than 30 ng/ml.
A second study* on Teen Psychosis done in Sweden found teenagers had the lowest levels of Vitamin D. Vitamin D levels in females averaged around 20 ng/ml and 10 ng/ml in males.
Our teens and middle school children are exposed to multiple types of stressors. If just one stressor could be recognized and treated, it would be a huge benefit. A low Vitamin D level stresses the body and brain and how it functions. Just think how much it would help a child or teen to have his brain functioning at optimal level and you could have control over that by finding out what your child’s Vitamin D level is.
What do our children and particularly middle school through high school children do? They obviously don’t spend enough time outdoors in the sunshine. Video and computer games take a huge amount of their time as does texting. Their social activities are usually done indoors or during the dark of night. If we cannot get our children to spend adequate time in the sunshine, then I hope there will be a huge push for pediatric testing of vitamin D levels in children and teens. Supplementation with Vitamin D, when needed, will bring better mental and physical health to our children and teens. And the most help would come from the fact that they would not needlessly have to suffer from mental illnesses that can be helped by Vitamin D supplementation.
Studies*
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22571731
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20214992
That’s a VERY large percentage! And very scary, that such a simple thing can cause such a problem like that!
I never really thought about the effects of vitamin d efficiency on kids, but I can see how deficiencies can be widespread. I agree with your recommendation: Scoot your kids outdoors!
Scary!:/ I wish people would spend more time outside instead of sitting in front of tvs or computers. I always spend a minimum of 30 minutes outside every day without sunscreen.
Jessica,
You are lucky you have 30 minutes of sunshine to have time with! Here in Alaska it is very hard to get sunshine as we need.
Oh boy, I wish I had known about this sooner! I’ve gone through some issues the past few years being diagnosed with depression and then GAD, but when I got my Vitamin D levels checked, I was told they were quite low. My doctor got me prescribed on a supplement that I have to take weekly. Another nutrient that can cause serious symptoms due to deficiency is Vitamin B or B12 in my case! Anyway, the fact that such a deprivation causes such serious problems and the lack of awareness about it is just mindblowing! I could have saved myself some years of feeling miserable!
Ari..yes I had to take supplements weekly but they did not help much. Finally finding out I had gluten intolerance and that had messed up the way my gut assimilated nutrients, My Vit D has finally come up!
Yes the B vitamins are very helpful for depression…
This is an amazing article, I think tweens and teens having low vitamin D levels makes perfect sense. I now want to have my kids tested to make sure. Thank you so much fr this enlightening article.
Wow had no idea that it could be linked to psychosis! THanks for the enlightening and informative article!
Gosh, didn’t realize this was such a problem. Will pass this info on to my friend whose son is have some similar issues. She would love to find a solution. Thanks!
I hope more parents would encourage the practice of checking Vitamin K levels as part of regular testing for children and teens. Imagine the benefits of being able to help someone when we understand what is the real problem and can address it medically.
This is a interesting article. I have been reading lately that Low Vit D has been linked to a lot of different illnesses.
I will keep this in mind when my children are teens. Interesting info.
This is why when I look for vitamins I look for ones with everything high in the percentage. Thank you. Jerri Davis
Thank you for sharing. Very interesting to find this out
This was very interesting, thank you! Love your blog!
I don’t have children myself, yet, but reading this certainly made me think about some of my friend’s kids, and I’m going to send them this article so they can realize this may be why their kids aren’t doing so well.
that is very interesting and not suprising though since children do spend a great deal of time indoors as well as not eating a well balanced diet
So then what do we give them or what can we do? I had no idea
I have really low Vitamin D levels.. but I’m not a teen.
Interesting and scary to know….
This is certainly an eye-opener. I hope parents everyone read this.
Wow!! What an eye opening article. Why aren’t the doctors testing for this with our teens? I never heard about this from any of our doctors.
As a mother of teenage daugther, Im shocked when she comes home and tells me that some of her friends are having sucicde thoughts. They have a great support system in place at their shool. But this is shocking, and Im going to read into this and maybe bring this to light at the next PTO meeting thanks!!
I can see this since sun light is also linked to production of vitamin D and Alsaka has issues during its dark season
Thank you for this great information. I have 2 teenagers at home and would never have thought this could cause issues. I will make sure to discuss this with their doctor next visit. Thank you so, so much.
Always learning something new, thanks for sharing!
This is great information and a good reminder for all of us to get ourside more, thanks!
I read this post with much interest. I, myself, have been diagnosed with low vitamin D levels. My Dr. put me on a perscription strength dose taken weekly.
Middleschools through Highschools “must” schedule P.E. classes in the early morning to expose the children to sunlight.Pediatric testing must also be done in schools! Supplementation with Vit.D must also be done. All these if done will prevent Low Vit. D levels and prevent Teen Psychosis.
Interesting to say the least. I have always been a firm believer in a multi vitamin for the kids and adults.
That is very scary! I wish that more doctors tested for vitamin D deficiency since it is so prevalent in the US.
This is so eye opening. My teenaged nephew is surely low on his D intake. I’ll be passing this along to my sister!
I’ve heard a lot about the importance of Vitamin D in our lives and how we lack so much of it because we don’t spend enough time outdoors. Great post!
I have heard about this before, but afte reading this it was much more in depth, and it explained it a lot more for me. Very interesting – thank you.
wow, that’s really interesting!
I knew vit d was important but not that important. I will be having mine checked next time i go to the dr. thank you for this information it was very useful.
Interesting my teen daughter has her ups and downs and from one level to the nxt within secs going to have to check into this.Thanks!!!
Thank you for the information. I have a teenager and a preadolescent that could be helped by this article. It rains a lot in the winter where we live so I will be sure to get their Vitamin D levels checked!
I’ve heard several times recently about the importance of Vit. D. I was taking it while I was on bed rest my last pregnancy but I’ve been bad about not taking it recently. This has motivated me to go get it out and start taking it again!
I can believe this! We live in Alaska and in the winter I can get the blues easy! Vit D helps me get in a better mood. Never knew it was that important for your mind until now.
Thank you for making us all aware of this issue. I don’t think I would have run into it had I not read your blog.
How interesting.
Very interesting information. I live in central Montana. 🙂 I am kind of an in-home body. But my kids played outside a lot. And they also played a lot of video games. But I think they had a good balance.
Also: being a teen linked to teen psychosis. No really though, very informative and interesting.
Wow very interesting. I’m going to show this to my neighbor. Her teenage daughter has been having lots of problems, she just stays in her room plays games and text all the time. I have told her she needs some activities outside.
Very interesting studies. Another great reason to get your kids outside in the sunshine instead of sitting in front of video games.
I have been seeing a lot of this about vitamin D lately. I recently started taking it. We will see if works.
I am a psychology major in college and have never heard any of this information. This is pretty interesting and would have been awesome to have in my abnormal psych class so that I could start a discussion related to this. Maybe I will have other psych classes that I can use this as discussion in to find out more information from instructors.
My husband was telling me yesterday that I needed to go outside the house to get some vitamin D. I do not like to be told what to do, so I said I dont need vitamin D i dont think getting sunlight is that important, the sad part my husband was right about my skin needing vitamin D 🙁
I have a nephew whose levels are low so he’s been put on a supplement, however the doctor never mentioned the psychosis, which concerns me because there are mental health problems in his family already. Thanks for the heads up!!!!
this was an interesting read! i guess you learn something new every day!
This is so interesting! I wonder what effect it has on adult psychosis. I know it is a problem…I live in Oregon, where we don’t get a lot of sun, and many people suffer from Vitamin D deficiencies 🙁
This is fascinating. Sunshine and eating healthy is so important for children. Unfortunately, a lot of people use the television as a babysitter, and a lot of people think it’s only important to start eating healthy by one’s 30s.
Colleen, thank you for posting this. Recently, I purchased some Vitamin D supplement after reading how critical it is to have enough. I’m always worried that my kiddos aren’t getting what they need, especially in the winter months. Last year I read that the use of sunscreen prevents the sun from doing it’s job in creating this within our body – great, solve one problem and create another. There are some days when the advice is so much and contradictory I don’t know which way is up. I just try the best I can and hopefully I can help keep my little ones as healthy as imperfectly humanly possible.
Vitamin D levels can be checked with a simple blood test. It is important to do this if one is taking the vitamin since it is fat soluble which means it is stored in the fat cells of the body and can lead to hyperVitaminD which is a bad thing. There are many health conditions related to Vitamin D besides this so talk to your Doctor and have a blood test first for your health sake.
Very interesting article. I worry about vitamin D all the time because I live in Oregon where we get rain at least 9 months out of the year.
Interesting. I’d never heard that Vitamin D levels could cause psychosis. When I got breast cancer back I had mine tested and it was normal. I do walk outside a lot and have every curtain open during day to let sunlight in. I”ve also taken vitamins my whole adult life
Thanks for this informative article about the vitamin D levels, I know many teens are not getting the vitmains they need. Thanks for the insite!
Very interesting article. Especially considering that teenage suicide has increased drastically in the last decade.
I’ve been hearing more & more about the lack of Vitamin D – it’s something we need to check on!
Thank you, I learned alot.
this was interesting. thanks for sharing. I never knew this info. but I am so glad I have my girls take vitamins.
thanks for the great information!! i try my best to make sure my girls play outside often, take they’re vitamins, and they drink vit. D milk. so hopefully this will never be an issue for us.
Maybe thats what happened to me.. Im still having episodes…
It is amazing what the lack vitamin D can do to someone. What is more amazing is how many people don’t realize this and how many problems go untreated because of this. It is also commonly overlooked by doctors too. Multi vitamins do not supply the proper amount to correct this problem either. Thank you for supplying such an informative post and making many people aware of this.
Yikes well it’s definitely good to take multivitamins I think
Very interesting article! I never knew what problems could occur from a Vitamin D Deficiency! So Sad.
I wrote a paper on this subject back in college. I’m glad to see others being made aware of this
very informative! i had no idea that low Vit D could lead to this. I am well aware about Vit D and low levels as i have been diagnosed with MS and my Vit D levels are always monitored and I am on what some would consider mega doses of Vit D per my neuro’s advice. It is amazing what vitamins do for our body!!!
This makes sense to me because lack of Vitamin D in the winter months (less sunlight) leads to SAD where people are seasonally depressed. I know I tend to feel better in the months where there is a lot of sunlight. I hope teens affected by this recognize the symptoms and get help before anything drastic happens.
He’s 19 now but most of my son’s teen years were spent up all night playing video games in the dark. We found when he was a child he has an allergy to ultraviolet light so when he is in the sun he has to use SPF 100 to protect his skin. He got to the point he didn’t want to go outside in the sun for fear of the effects of the allergy so he stayed in and entertained his self with a computer or games. He has had a couple of psychotic episodes with in the last couple of years. This post explains a lot. I will make sure he knows this and make sure he gets supplements since he can’t get vitamin D from the sun.
Interesting and scary. But I’m glad you can take more vitamin D and possibly address it.
So lucky that this is a problem easily fixed – get out and play in the sunshine – hang out outdoors – and Vitamin D pills.
My teenage daughter has been having these similar issues, I am going to give his a try and see what happens 🙂
What a great article! Thank you!
Very informative and useful, thank you for passing some information on that I was unsure of.
Interesting article…I know 3 people who have PCOS and are insulin resistant. The medication they take depleats their Vitamin D. Each one of them suffer from mental illness…I am going to look into this further.
Amazing info. in this story. I am a child from a mother with mental illness and never understood what she was going thru until she past away. It’s too bad that mental illness is such a taboo subject today, esp. in children & teens. I wish I had know more growing up and not to have thought my mother was just a bad person who didnt love us. I glad people like u are getting the word out and they find ways to help those that struggle with these issues..
Very informative. I as well think it is very important to have the vitamin D levels checked. It doesn’t hurt i’m sure to take vitamin D supplements as almost no one most likely gets enough Vitamin D naturally.
Thanks for sharing 🙂 I’d heard this before…and put my 3 sons and daughter on supplements…we tend to eat well, and they get enough dairy ( even though we don’t drink milk per se) but their levels were all low at the last check ups they all had.
Very interesting. This could really explain somethings with my son. It makes sense too. I have low Vit D and have to take supplements for it.
I will have him tested next time he goes for a physical! Thanks great info.
I have never heard of this before. Thanks for the good information. I have a daughter who will be 14 today actually:( She doesn’t drink milk at all, so I need to make it appoint t make sure she gets Vitamin D in other ways i.e. such as the sun, other food, supplements if needed etc.
wow learn something new every day, crazy as this sounds people really need to be aware of everything around them,, as simple as not having enough vitamins
My son drinks plenty of milk so I don’t think his would be low but this is really helpful information to have so I thank you for sharing it with us 🙂
Some good info that I didn’t know thanks
I am so glad you wrote about this. My son struggles with mood disorders and I never thought to check the Vit D levels…I’m going to make an appointment on Monday. Thank you so much.
Interesting but this will not be an issue with my teen as I give her VIT D each day:)
I knew that I had a vitamin d deficiency but never knew how much it affected me. Makes me wonder if I had this growing up as well. I really appreciate you taking the time to share this with us!
I am thankful for your blog. I did not know that a low vitamin D level could do this, my levels are low and now that I am informed I will be asking my Dr about some follow up, thanks again
I learned something new today from you. I know that teens need sleep because they’re growing, but had no idea of such low levels of D in teens! As if they don’t go through enough trying to grow so much emotionally! Thanks for enlightening me!
This is very informative. Low Vitamin D runs in our family on both sides, My mom who was like me and hated milk and anything dairy had low vitamin D and my dad who loved milk and everything dairy and ate it all the time also had low vitamin D. They both were always outdoors in the sun plenty. I have never had mine checked but I am probably also low.
Wow. I never would have thought that Vitamin d deficiency could be that big of an issue mentally
man i wish vitamin d levels being checked was a regular test.
This don’t surprise me in the least..kids these days don’t play outside enough at all.. and parents don’t make them! Or they don’t limit the time they let the kids watch tv or play video games either!
I think I was reading this before I did not know about this till your post. I now have all my of my kids take vitamin D
I definitely support the use of vitamin D supplements. I have lupus and can’t be in the sun. I was put on vitamin D supplements and couldn’t believe the difference it made in my emotional health!
This does not surprise me…I have low Vitamin D, and when I forget to take a supplement for a couple of weeks, I get so depressed, and my mind gets a little whacky…I didn’t know about this study. though…interesting.
This is so true! The reason why I go for morning walks every time I can. As for my 12-year-old son, he gets enough of the sun in his school. They line up outside under the sun early in the morning during their flag ceremony.
thank you
i think most people have a vitiamin effency and are misdiagnosed daily,
Very intresting article. Who knew Vitamin D had such an impact
Interesting. A few months back hubby and I had some blood-work done and it came back that I was Vitamin D deficient. The doctor was actually worried at how low my levels were. I have to take supplement daily. I have to watch my sun exposure after a kitchen accident burned 30% of my body. The areas where I was burned are very sensitive to the sun. I wonder if adults are affected the same way as children when it comes to vitamin D defenciency.
I had no idea that vitamin D could do so much!
My doctor must be one of the few who are actually on the lookout for this. She has been pushing the testing for Vitamin D levels to a lot of her patients. The low levels cause so many issues that are easily avoided with supplements. Thank you for sharing your awareness!
If we could supplement sunshine for meds it would be awesome! maybe thats why our parents made us play outside and drink milk w/ our meals.
I remember hearing about this. This is great info. My teenage sons suffers from depression, so this is definitely something I’m going to look into!
I think this article is very interesting. I do not think most of us realize the impact the Vitamin D plays on our body. I know personally I have been told I should take Vitamin D supplements because I am hardly ever in the sun and I don’t think I get enough in my diet. Definitely something to look into more.. thank you.
I found this to very interesting. It amazes me how Vitamin D can have such an effect on the body, in many ways, if enough is not consumed 🙂
I have low Vitamin D levels. Thanks for the info, I never knew there was a correlation. Yikes!
This kind of scared me since I am raising an eleven year old granddaughter. I am going to have her doctor follow up on this. Thanks for the info.
Oh wow, I never knew this… I’m definitely getting my kids checked ASAP
Wow,very interesting read. Who wouldve thought that low levels of Vitamin D could cause psychosis in teens?! I will definitely push for more outside play for my kiddos after reading this! Thank you for this article
This is such good information! My son is 9 and I definitely want him as healthy as possible. Thanks so much! (I have a few friends that I’m going to pass this onto as well.)
This is a great article you put out. Vitamins are a good thing.
Interesting read, it’s no surprise really, they don’t go outside enough.
Wow I would have never known
Wow! I have never heard this before. Thanks for the info, I’ll have to look more into it.
Thank you for educating us all
This is scary! I have a teen daughter and would hate to see this happen to her. I will be sure to take her to the doctor and get her checked to make sure she isn’t low on vitamin D. Thank you for this article!
I never thought about any of this. I take a vitamin D supplement everyday, I was diagnosed with severe depression a fear years ago and they told me my levels were way down. Being in a wheelchair keeps me indoors alot, so not much sunshine. I guess it makes sense that my levels are low.
Thank you for this article. It is very informative and is something I had never heard about.
Such great information – my kids are younger, but definitely good stuff to keep in mind!
Spot on, definitely points out another reason why kids need to get up and get outside.
That is very interesting. It makes a lot of sense, to many kids stay inside all day.
You have no idea how close to home this hits
kim thompson, I hope things are ok.
very interesting ty
That is why it is so important to take your vitamins. You can not absorb vitamin D without calcium, which is why milk includes vitamin D. Encourage your children to drink whole milk.
this is good to know however my boys have a while til they are teens
I have a family member that spends hardly any time outdoors,,,,, he stays inside playing video games, and playing on the computer. I can just imagine his Vitamin D level is way off !!!! This was a very very interesting article. Glad I read it!!!
Good things to know
what great information. i will be giving my daughter a vitamin d especially now that she’s 16.
this makes me want to give my daughter extra vitamin D!
Vitamin D is so very important to having a healthy body. I can remember my grandmother telling us this all the time.
What an interesting post! My son drank a lot of milk, especially during his teen years and he spent every moment outside, so it did help him through those “tough” years 🙂
Thank you for this blog. I already knew this as my Vit D level is low, but that is due to surgery I had. I’ve always said kids need to get out more and socialize. .OUTSIDE. They stay home on the computer and video games.
Interesting article, but I don’t think this has anything to do with the psychosis episodes. There are other factors to consider in that. Yes Vitamin D levels should be checked, and low levels effect the body, but not in this way. They need to study a LOT more before this is true I think.
Jennifer, there are many factors that affect psychosis. But if you have a low Vit D level which the studies all found in the teens with psychotic episodes….it can be a trigger that takes them over the edge.
Great article, I had a lot of depression as a teen, kind of came out of it, lost my husband to leukemia when I was 24, battled depression off & on for years, I would get down but could always come out of it. I’m 51 now and the last 3 1/2 years has been terrible, had to quit my job, been under doctors care, finally got my disability, I have very few good days, but not just depression, I suffer from Neuropathy & Fibromyalgia, live with a lot of pain even with the meds they have me on.
I believe this to be true. Children don’t get outside enough anymore. They are inside with their Iphones or computers and the like so they are never exposed to the sun which is a wonderful source of vitamin D as long as you protect yourself from the rays
I suffered from low Vitamin D levels and it plays havoc on your body so I believe it would also affect other areas of your body. You’d think since there are so many side effects for low vitamin D that doctors would routinely check this? Doesn’t make sense that you have to have something go wrong before you find out.
Kimberly, I think we have to be proactive with our health and ask for things now these days.
Wow, quite interesting! Thanks for sharing! Wish I had known this when I was still in school!!! 😉
Thanks for the info..will pass it on to my daughter-in-law also 😀
OMG! I am so buying some today and making my teen Take them! I’ve been on Vitiamin D for years! I never thought about giving then to my teen! Thank you so much for the information!
Happy Holidays,
June
Impressive Information!
wow! this was all new to me. thanks for the great info.. gonna stock up on vitamin d!
I never knew vitamin D had this effect on the brain.
Interesting study
I didn’t realize low vitamin D levels could be so detrimental. Until recently, my family lived in Hawaii on a military base, so my oldest daughter was constantly playing outside with all her friends. Now that we live on the mainland and have an actual winter to experience, low vitamin D is more of a concern that I’ll keep in mind.
Very Informative , Thank you For this post.
Very interesting post . i Love this article very informative !
Being a nurse and working nights I have always been concerned with my own vitamin D levels but I have never thought of the implications to my children. Great info to further research into. Thanks
Thank you for this very informative post. I don’t know about Vitamin D, but when I was growing up I had very severe episodes of depression and psychosis. Doctors thought I had Bipolar and ended up putting me on several heavy-duty medications. These medications destroyed me and my life. It wasn’t until a few months ago (I’m 30 now) when doctors took me OFF the medications, diagnosed me with ADD, put me on ONE medication, and changed my life again — this time for the better. I think parents need to do a LOT MORE research when it comes to mental health issues and what can causes them. Just b/c a doctor says something does not mean it’s absolute — doctors are human and therefore fallible too!!!! Always double and TRIPLE check information when it involves your kids and their health!!
Amen Liz McComas!
I never would have guessed, thank you for this information.
I think we need to get our Vit. D checked!
Wow I never knew vitamin d was so important. I’ll make sure to make sure my nieces are getting enough of it from now on.
I have read something like this before.Also vitamin B is really important
I also think low D intake correlates with eating disorders as well. I was a nutritionist before I was a nurse and studied deficiencies as the cause of some mental disorders. Times have changed too and more time is spent indoors so this is certainly an issue and of course with teens, nothing is ever easy to remedy!
Indeed Deb E.
I’ll have to look more into this. I find it very hard to believe.
vitamin d is good for you also fish oil could help
My doctor just put me on 1000 units a day to help with osteroperosis. I see that it hekps other things as well. I am glad I’m taking it now.
Love this very informative article!! I can not wait until your next enlightening article!!
Thanks,
KimG
very informative thanks 🙂
So sad 🙁 This is why your parents always tell you to take your vitamins! &To go outside and get some fresh air! Thanks mom!
Wow, I didn’t know this at all. I am raising a granddaughter that is soon to turn 12. I am going to be sure to have her doctor follow up on this on her next visit.
Interesting.Wow,fresh air and sunshine!
I work in a pharmacy and I swear EVERYONE is on vitamin D; but I had no idea it could possibly be linked to teen psychosis. That is very scary, when everyone can have access to an over the counter product-even a few insurances will pay for it. Everybody should contact their insurance or their pharmacy and see what is best for them.
This article has helped me so much. My teen is going through a very rough time and I know that some of it has to do with her vitamin D levels. She literally never goes out in the sunlight. I will be finding out a way to get her levels back up, probably by speaking with her doctor. It is really great to see a blog that gives out relevant information.
Thank you Sadie Carey.
I had no idea. Very interesting. I was told that a low vitamin d level causes muscle fatigue and low moods.But nothing like this. Thanks for the input!
It’s great reading all the information you provide. I am sending a copy of this to my daughter.
It is so great that you are getting the word out about Vitamin D deficiency. I had read this article and comment previously. But it was great to check it out again.
Thanks Denise Taylor-Dennis. I will be posting more info on Vit D soon
I didn’t realize how important Vitamin D is and that a deficiency of it is linked to psychosis until reading your articles. What an eye opener!
When my kids were born, my midwives recommended that they get vitamin D drops as a supplement, since it’s not a good idea to expose newborns to a lot of sun.
The best way I know of to get vitamin D is the sun and children just don’t get outside enough.
Yes being in the sun is the best…but then we were told to always use sunscreen so that makes getting the Vit D difficult. NO suncreen and being outside..otherwise if you know you have low levels..taking supplements is needed.
that is so true about the vit d i am glad to see pediatricians are recommending every baby to get vit d. this is an essential nutrient and because we have become so dense in it, causes a lot of problems
WOW! I HAD NO IDEA THAT VITAMIN D PLAYED SUCH A VITAL ROLE. I HAVE A TEENAGER THAT I WORRY ABOUT EVERYDAY. SCHOOL IS HARD ON THEM . KIDS ARE HARD ON THEM AND I DO ANY AND EVERYTHING I CAN TO HELP MAKE THESE TOUGH YEARS EASIER. VITAMIN D. I AM STILL SHOCKED BY THIS
This is a very interesting article. It is always good to take vitamins at any age but I will be adding this one to our family list.
This is some interesting information. That is good that they have connected low levels of Vitamin D to teen psychosis. Hopefully the treatment of it does help with controlling the psychosis.
Wow!! I need to look into this with my teenage daughters! I know vitamin d is important, but never realized it could affect the mental state of teens!
Really shocked reading this. It was really eye opening. I am passing this on to my daughter who has 2 kids. Parents should get their kids out like we did . We would spend all day outside. Kids now days live on tv & playing games all day.
Wow! What a great article! I knew there was a link between Vitamin D and depression, but psychosis? Gosh! We have teenage daughter — this is seriously helpful information!
I am glad I read this. I knew that having low Vitamin D was a problem now, but I didn’t know it affected the mental health of children.
Great Article, enjoy this.
am glad i got to read it because i personally have known about this, its amazing what being in the dark can do to a person.. thanks for sharing this..
Thank you for the information! I will definately pass this article along to my friends and family.
vitain D is very important to human body..that’s why we should make sure we are checked for low vitamin D,,
Interesting article, but sad. I guess with all the technology and advances we all have now, doesn’t seem to be a good thing. When I was a kid, we spent 90% of our time outdoors … how things have changed. I wonder if the powers that be, are making allowances for lower levels of Vitamin D in teens, when they are formulating over-the-counter vitamins for their age group? Thank you for sharing! 😀
How interesting and it makes so much sense. Thank you for sharing this article.
i found this article really interesting and kind of scary. I wish my kids all the health in the world and want them to go outside more.
I never realized (much like the majority of the population, it seems!) that this was such a rampant issues. It explains a lot. There are a million & one reasons that it is already difficult to be a teen, so when you add in deficiencies that you don’t generally think about covering when looking for solutions, it makes it that much harder to diagnos mental issues.
It has only been fairly recently that researchers were able to identify just how important Vit D truly is. I actually wrote an article last year for my community newspaper about how many problems can be caused by Vit D deficiency. I live in Northern Ontario and the sun is pretty scarce up here for several months. It was through my research that I started giving my son a supplement as well. Thanks for the great info, it is so important that people know they need to get enough Vit D!
This really doesnt surprise me anymore sense I been learning about how vitamin D effects us.
How we raise our children has changed dramatically since I was young. We never let them out of our site and often feed them less homemade healthy dinners and do too much fast food. We cannot expect that when we changed from a lifestyle of children playing outside from morning til night and coming home for Mom’s dinners after, that there wouldn’t be new and different problems that arise we’ve never dealt with before. I’m glad this problem is coming to light and I hope we can all find the balance our kids need.
Wow I will be sure to start giving my teens Vitamin D pills just to make sure they are getting what they need. Thank you
wow, very interesting and good to know
This is a very interesting article! I take 1,000 units of Vitamin D everyday plus Calcium because I have osteoporosis. I have brittle bones and have broken some bones in the last few years. Before I became disabled I was always outside doing something with sunscreen. But in the last 8 yrs. I’m in the house more confined. I never could tolerate milk so I can why now that I’m older my bones are the way they are.
I’m glad that now they do check teens for Vitamin D. Just think of all the people that doesn’t know this and the teens are not diagnose with the wrong illness. Thanks for the article.
I had never heard this before, thanks so much for the info! I have a teenage son who suffers from depression, so I’m going to buy him some Vitamin D. Thanks!
I have never heard of this before, it is interesting.
This is really interesting and explains a lot.
What an interesting and informative article. I have just recently come to realize how important it is to have your vitamin D levels checked. I have three children, aged 17, 18 and 20. I am going to take them in to have this checked ASAP!
Great article, easy read.
WOW!! THANK YOU!! I have to children, 22 and 18, who have had issues as of late and the docs just want to put them on meds I am now going to have their primary check out there vitamin D levels
That was very interesting to hear. I knew about seasonal affective disorder but not psychosis. I just wonder about children living in the Pacific NW, where I live. The sun does not shine for at least 9 months. They should look into what can be done to get vitamin D for them. They can get out and play if they want to get wet, but how can they get their vitamin D if the sun doesn’t shine?
Kayleen vit D is easily supplemented as a vitamin orally for children as well as adults.
My son is only 3 and I know that vitamin D deficiency can cause so many problems. That is why I make sure he goes out in direct sunlight for at least 5-10 minutes every day and also drinks his milk that is fortified with vitamin D.
wow! i really had no idea. thanks for the info! will definitely be looking into some supplements.
That is why I am very picky about the vitamins I buy because I do not always believe That they have enough in. Thank you. Jerri Davis
Good info. Thanks for sharing.
This is crazy, but it is true that low vitamins your body needs can lead to bad things. This is very good to know though. Great article.
It is so important to make sure that we are getting proper Vitamin D levels! Wow I did not know that low Vitamin D levels in Teens can cause psychosis! That tells me that we all need to make sure to be getting the proper levels of this Vitamin!
Thank you for this article, it gave me a lot of insight as to what could have been going on during my teenage years and definitely gives me something to watch for in my children. This article was great and I’m glad I read it.
Wow! I never knew this…but i do make my kids go outside for at least a half hour everyday I am going to make sure that in December I talk to my dr. About this for the kids thank you!
very interesting post, I really learned alot.
Very interesting, I know I always feel much better after being in the sunshine, if it rains for days it makes you so depressed now I know why.
Wow! I had no idea that this was such a big issue! Thank you for sharing the information! After reading the article, I can definitely see how this can be true though. I mean, how often do you see teens drinking anything healthy, especially milk! Not to mention that not many of our teenagers spend much time outside at all to soak in any Vitamin D from the sun! People better start paying attention to these kinds of things!
Wow, very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Very intresting article. I never knew vitamin D played such a strong role like this.
You have the most interesting and educational articles. Thank you for all of the good information.
Thanks Deb! It is my passion. More to come.
Great article! This was interesting to me because I have osteopenia – the pre-cursor to osteoporosis. I had thyroid cancer in 1989, and because they removed my thyroid, I am more at risk for breaking/brittle bones. I did have a bone scan and it was determined that I needed to take extra Vitamin D everyday to help. Trouble is, teens don’t realize that what they eat or don’t eat now will affect them later in life. Thank you for the article!
I can believe this because teens now days are always in a hurry and it seems they never have a nutritious breakfast, including milk or vitamin D enriched foods. Life needs to slow down, everyone is in such a rush that they forget sometimes that their children are not getting the nutrition they need for their bodies
Very interesting! I woudl have never thought to have my vitamin D levels checked let alone mt teens! i will be making sure his levels are tested asap! thanks for sharing this great info!
I suffer from lack of Vitamin D and it just stinks. Interesting to know that it effects moods too.
It makes me wonder if it’s only in teens. I’m suppose to be taking vitamin D because mine is low. I haven’t had any problems with reality. I hope taking the necessary nutrients can help with teen stress factors. Thanks for sharing this review!
Peggy, I am taking Vit D too. I feel much better with high doses because for some reason my body was not absorbing it.
There are so many nasty free radicals in our diets and it seems that science is just now realizing that vitamins are needed.
very interesting post, i never heard of this connection before.
Very interesting article. My children are still very young, but it is always good to know what you should be looking for in the future. I had gastric bypass surgery and didn’t take my vitamins and felt horrible! I have found out first hand how important vitamins are to a persons well being! Thanks for the info!
Very interesting, being that I have a teenage daughter. If I ever notice any signs, I can have this tested. Thanks for the info!
Wow sounds like doctors should add that to check ups!
Jeff, many do. But being your own advocate is pretty much necessary these days…so ask your doctor to check your levels.
We as parents need to try to encourage our kids to play out in the sun more and eat foods that contain Vit D and drink more milk. My son loves milk now but after a certain age sometimes they grow a distaste for it. Great article :).
I am glad I came across this. It sounds like something that I should discuss with my daughter doctor. Thank you for the article!
This sounds like an easily fixable issue & I think it will definitely prompt me to bring it to my own doctor’s attention for my son ( as well as for myself! ) We live in Portland, OR where it rains 7mos out of the year & the lack of sun is prominent. Luckily, our pediatricians here are very aware of the situation & have a steady routine of prescribing vitamin D drops for young children 🙂
I grew up in Portland, Or Chev. Way too rainy and dreary much of the time 🙂 I wish I would have known about Vit D in my teens! I am sure I needed it then….since mine was only 10 when we moved to Alaska about 12 years ago.
very interesting.. i’m definately going to talk to my daughters dr about vit d
I believe there is a huge correlation between vitamin and hormones. We do not realize how being deficient or an abundance in one of these can affect our brain. nice post
It’s amazing how many things have been link to low vitamin D. Thanks for the post. It was very interesting.
Wow! I had no idea! Both my kids take vitamin D because they are low in it. I think so many people have low vitamin d and don’t even know it!
Very interesting facts, as well as a great read and great info to pass along to others.. Thank you very much for sharing!
Thanks for the information…I will make sure my tween daughters take their vitamins, regardless of how much they fight me about it, and get outside more to get some sunshine!
This is a very informative, yet somewhat scary, article. Thanks for posting!
The last few years I have been reading about the need to get outside and soak up some sun for at least 15 minutes, but it never dawned on me that teens might not be going out at all. Most of them really are staying indoors and playing video games, watching TV, etc., and not getting enough sunshine. This was a fantastic post. Thank you!
wow. This is kind of scary. I never knew this could be such an issue.
Vitamin D is a tricky one! I always will remember my mother directing us to go outside and “get our sunshine vitamins”. Our family is prone to Seasonal Affective Disorder, which I’ve always figured had a link back to the Vitamin D, but it seems studies are showing more and more how critical this is to mood and neural regulation. Even if levels don’t drop so low as to cause a psychotic episode, it’s easy to imagine that lower-than-optimal Vitamin D can cause other issues.
thanks for this review on this subject my mother has severe vitamon d defiency and takes 50000 units 1 time a week , u would be suprised how much this effects ones moods and health , i was not aware of the serious effects it has on teenagers thanks for the knowledge
Very interesting artical. I had to take Vitamin D pills for 3 months they told me it was at 16, but they did not tell me what that ment other then it being low.
Jeanette, I hope you are rechecking your levels…you need to be much higher than 16!
Very interesting aricle. I learned a lot about Vitamin D levels. I had no idea that this was an issue and it makes me wonder what mine are. I spend way too much time inside at work and at home and so do my kids. We get out in the summer but in PA it’s colder more often than not. I’d be very interested to know what my level is at.
That’s amazing. I live in the Pacific NW where we have rain and no sun for about 9 months out of the year. It took a lot of me nagging my Dr. but she finally tested my vitamin D levels and they were way low. It’s kind of scary that low levels could cause psychosis.
Erin@Making Memories yes it is scary and more people need to be aware of this. I am so glad you found out yours were low, now you are taking supplements I hope 🙂
Thank you for the really interesting article. I didn’t know that vitamin D was linked to psychosis. It makes sense that teenagers would be most at risk for low levels of vitamin D since they spend so much time outdoors. Supplementation is one way to go about getting enough vitamin D but it would be so much easier if we all, especially teenagers, found ways to enjoy our leisure time outdoors and get sun exposure, but it’s very difficult in today’s world with our fast paced lifestyle and technology. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
That is TERRIFIC to know! I had no idea that Vitamin D level could affect teens so much. This is an awesome article, thank you for sharing!
I really had no idea this is a problem with teens I didn’t even know that they test Vitamin D levels. Thank you for the information.
good to know! I will make sure my son gets enough vitamins
I knew that a lack of Vitamin D could cause depression but I didn’t realize it could get that bad.
That’s interesting–I never knew Vitamin D made such a difference!
very interesting post, I really learned alot.
Oh my gosh. I never would have known all this if I had not read your article. This is such a big number 38 % is alot of teenagers ! Teenagers dont always eat healthy either. I do agree that they are playing games and watching TV and texting when they could be outside enjoy some fresh air. This info should be shared with other parents so they are aware of this to.
What a fascinating post! I knew that low levels of certain vitamins could cause some depression in people, but Vitamin D was not one of those vitamins I’d read about before. Thank you so much for sharing! I certainly hope this becomes a little more widespread knowledge!
I am very shocked to have read this article! I did not know that low Vitamin D level in teens can lead to teen psychosis! This is such an important vitamin for us to be taking! I take Vitamin D, and I am telling my elderly father and sister about this important article, and make sure that they are getting adequate amounts! Thanks so much for this post!
WOW! Interesting– and well can explain our teen daughter what she seems to go through and they just put her on anixity meds. I think maybe when we go for the next check up we are asking about this– thanks for the info.
I know people that buy at-home testing units to test their Vit. D levels. I really need to as well. I would not be surprised if I was low. The modern American diet really does not do ayone especially children any good and it takes a parent who is knowledgeable and serious about nutrition, to ensure their children are getting everything they need in their diet.
What an interesting article! I only wish doctors across the board would check Vit D levels for everyone! Treating such a simple deficit in the body could enhance a person’s overall function no matter what age. You are right though.. it is heart wrenching to see a child suffer, let alone with psychosis. Not to say that the etiology of psychosis is only Vit D deficit.. it could be a variety of reasons. It is important to be active in the discussions with your doctors and tell them what you want and TO ASK QUESTIONS!!
Thank you Bobbi for your reply! And yes I don’t want to lead anyone to think that a Vitamin D deficit is the only etiology for psychosis. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could help a few!