10+ years of service
A new university study recently published in the American Journal of Addiction Medicine has found that Vitamin D supplements greatly improve the mental health and cognitive functioning of drug-addicted people on methadone programs.
In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 64 people who were taking part in a methadone maintenance treatment program were given either 50,000 IU vitamin D supplements or a placebo every fortnight over 6 months.
At the end of the trial period, those taking the Vitamin D supplements were found to have greatly improved memory and recall, decision-making processes, language fluency and vocabulary, compared to those on placebo. Significantly the Vitamin D group also reported a marked decrease in depression, as indicated via the Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI).
The results are important, as according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation people on methadone programs often report ‘mental clouding and confusion’ as well as depression and anxiety as some of the more common side effects.
Low levels of Vitamin D has been linked to a range of health conditions from COPD to childhood obesity and ADHD and this latest piece of research adds to the mounting body of evidence linking it to depression and mental health conditions.
For more information on quality Vitamin D supplements and integrative doctors in your local area with an interest in this topic, contact the friendly staff at National Custom Compounding on 1300 731 755 or email us at [email protected]