Vitamin D and Depressive Symptoms in Women

Topic: Healthcare Research
Words: 341 Pages: 1

Previously, it was hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency triggers antenatal depression. Shipowick et al. (2009) designed a study to empirically assess whether reduced maternal vitamin D amounts link to depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Their research established that scarce vitamin D amounts increases melancholy in expectant mothers. The study proposes that supplemental vitamin D3 lowers distress symptoms, making it consistent with previous studies on the same subject.

The literature review is well-researched with insightful and up-to-date resources that provide in-depth knowledge on the connection between vitamin D concentration and dejection while also reporting the treatment option for such persons. It effectively consults previous studies where the descriptive research of persons with fibromyalgia conducted during the winter period in Ireland conforms to the exploration at hand (Shipowick et al., 2009). However, the literature review remains unclear on whether minimal vitamin D concentration is the cause of depression among the population. It should establish whether low vitamin D could be the only element that leads to depression. Moreover, further information would be crucial to give appropriate guidelines for vitamin D supplementation in a clinical setting and determine if, when, and how it lowers depression.

The study is interesting since it comprehensively examines the topic at hand despite being investigated in other areas before. Further, the proposal to supplement vitamin D as a measure to replenish its scarcity remains a thoughtful act aimed at helping women, especially in wintertime. However, for enhanced comprehension of the relations between seasonal depressive symptoms and vitamin D supplementation, it is significant to expand the study to meet bigger, sufficiently powered samples.

The research is relevant and important in nursing in several ways. First, nurses, just like other health care providers, come into contact with depressed persons, and any attempts to address this raging public health concern remains highly appreciated. Since the underlying pathophysiology of stress remains unclear, this basic investigation emphasized the function vitamin D and its impacts on despair (Shipowick et al., 2009). The research gives nurses experiential evidence on causes and management of antenatal depression.

Reference

Shipowick, C. D., Moore, C. B., Corbett, C., & Bindler, R. (2009). Vitamin D and depressive symptoms in women during the winter: A pilot study. Applied Nursing Research, 22(3), 221-225. Web.