Higher Vitamin D Intake in Infancy Linked to Lower Risk of Mental Health Problems at School Age

With around one in eight children in high-income countries now experiencing a mental health disorder, much remains unknown regarding the potential causes. While investigations are ongoing, some research already suggests that vitamin D deficiency may play a role. A recent study considered this and found that higher-dose vitamin D3 supplements given to infants up until the age of 2 years old may reduce the risk of psychiatric symptoms occurring between the ages of 6 to 8 years old.

Published in JAMA Network Open by researchers from Tampere University in Finland, the study was conducted as part of the ‘Vitamin D Intervention in Infants’ (VIDI) clinical trial. A double-blind randomized trial, VIDI had originally included a total of 987 infants. Of these, 346 were assessed in the current study.

The study compares the impact of a standard 400 IU dose of vitamin D3 on mental health with a triple dose of 1200 IU. A total of 169 infants received the lower dose, while 177 were given the higher dose. The infants received their vitamin D3 daily from the age of two weeks until they were 2 years old.

When the children reached 6 to 8 years of age their psychiatric symptoms were assessed by their parents using a questionnaire. The results revealed that, compared to children given the standard dose, those receiving the higher intake of vitamin D3 had fewer reported symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety, and withdrawn behavior.

The role of nutrition in regulating mood and behavior

Noting that vitamin D plays a role in neurodevelopment, the study researchers describe how, across all age groups, insufficiency now affects almost 50 percent of the global population and deficiency more than one-tenth. They also point out that lower levels of vitamin D in childhood are associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The study adds to the growing body of scientific evidence showing that nutrition plays a crucial role in the regulation of mood and behavior. Previous research conducted in the United States has shown that schoolchildren given a daily supplement containing 50 percent of the recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) for vitamins and minerals over a period of 4 months had lower rates of threats and fighting, vandalism, being disrespectful, disorderly conduct, defiance, obscenities, refusal to work or serve, endangering others, and other offences.

Other research similarly suggests that vitamin and mineral supplementation has the potential to improve brain function, even in children who are already considered healthy. Researchers at the Dr. Rath Research Institute have demonstrated that schoolchildren taking a daily multi-nutrient supplement show a statistically significant improvement in their learning progress indicators across several subjects, compared to children in a control group not given the supplement.

A multibillion-dollar drug market

According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one in five American children aged between 3 to 17 years old now has a mental, emotional, behavioral, or developmental disorder. Worryingly, therefore, statistics from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that 8.4 percent of American children between the ages of 5 and 17 took prescription medication for their mental health in 2019.

With the numbers of children diagnosed with anxiety or depression increasing, and growing evidence that vitamin-rich nutrition can help prevent these problems, governments should resist the solicitations of the drug industry and turn instead towards science-based natural solutions. Otherwise we risk turning the mental health of our children into a permanent multibillion-dollar market for the pharmaceutical investment business.

• Bio
• Latest Posts

Paul Anthony Taylor

Executive Director of the Dr. Rath Health Foundation and one of the coauthors of our explosive book, “The Nazi Roots of the ‘Brussels EU'”, Paul is also our expert on the Codex Alimentarius Commission and has had eye-witness experience, as an official observer delegate, at its meetings.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Paul's background was in the music industry, where he worked as a keyboard player and programmer with artists including Paul McCartney, Bryan Ferry, Bill Withers, the Verve, Texas, and Primal Scream.

He first became interested in natural health after falling ill with a chronic fatigue syndrome-related disorder in 1991 and subsequently making a full recovery through the use of natural health therapies. After meeting Dr. Rath and Dr. Niedzwiecki at an anti-Codex rally in Berlin in 2002, Paul was inspired to make a life-changing decision to leave the music industry to work for the Foundation and help defend the right of patients worldwide to have free access to natural health approaches.

You can find Paul on Twitter at @paulanthtaylor

Der Executive Director der Dr. Rath Health Foundation ist einer der Koautoren des explosiven Buchs „Die Nazi-Wurzeln der Brüsseler EU“. Paul ist auch unser Experte zum Thema „Codex Alimentarius-Kommission“ und hat Augenzeugenerfahrung als offizieller beobachtender Teilnehmer bei diesen Treffen.

Bevor er seine Arbeit bei der Stiftung antrat war Paul in der Musikindustrie aktiv. Er arbeitete als Keyboard-Spieler und Programmierer mit Künstlern wie Paul McCartney, Bryan Ferry, Bill Withers, the Verve, Texas und Primal Scream.

Sein Interesse an natürlicher Gesundheit wuchs, als er 1991 an Störungen erkrankte, die aus einem chronischen Erschöpfungssyndrom resultierten. Durch natürliche Gesundheitstherapien wurde er schließlich vollständig geheilt. Ein Treffen 2002 mit Dr. Rath und Dr. Niedzwiecki bei einer Anti-Codex-Demonstration in Berlin inspirierte ihn zu einer lebensverändernden Entscheidung und er verließ die Musikindustrie um für die Stiftung zu arbeiten und das Recht der Patienten zu verteidigen, weltweit freien Zugang zu natürlichen Gesundheitsverfahren zu haben.

Auf Twitter ist Paul unter @paulanthtaylor zu finden.

Latest posts by Paul Anthony Taylor (see all)

• Police Arrest 22 Suspects During Probe Into Major Fraud Linked to European Union COVID-19 Recovery Fund - April 19, 2024
• Plummeting Deaths From Heart Disease in United States Reflect Rise in Use of Dietary Supplements - April 12, 2024
• Growing Evidence of the Protective Effect of Vitamin D Against Breast Cancer - April 5, 2024
• Doctors Report Mysterious Worldwide Cancer ‘Epidemic’ - March 29, 2024
• ‘Definitive’ Evidence Linking Vitamin D to Lower Risk of COVID-19 and ICU Admission - March 22, 2024