A study from the Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention and collaborating institutions has found that treating low vitamin D levels with supplements may help reduce the risk of suicide attempts and intentional self-harm.
Vitamin D is both a nutrient obtained from food and a hormone the body produces.
As a fat-soluble vitamin, its most well-known role is helping the body absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus, both essential for building and maintaining strong bones.
Laboratory studies have also shown that vitamin D can slow cancer cell growth, support the immune system, and reduce inflammation.
Because many organs and tissues in the body contain vitamin D receptors, scientists believe the vitamin may play important roles beyond bone health, including potential effects on mood and mental well-being.
In the current study, researchers investigated the relationship between vitamin D supplementation, blood vitamin D levels, suicide attempts, and intentional self-harm. They analyzed data from U.S. veterans treated within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system.
Veterans who had been prescribed vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) or vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) between 2010 and 2018 were compared with similar veterans who had not received vitamin D treatment. The matched groups were alike in demographics and medical histories, allowing for clearer comparisons.
The findings showed that supplementation with vitamin D3 and vitamin D2 was linked to a 45% and 48% lower risk, respectively, of suicide attempts and self-harm.
The protective effect was even stronger in certain groups: Black veterans and those with very low vitamin D levels (0–19 ng/ml) had a 64% lower risk compared with their matched controls. Higher supplement doses were associated with greater reductions in risk, suggesting a dose-response relationship.
Based on these results, the researchers concluded that vitamin D supplementation was linked to a meaningful reduction in suicide attempts and self-harm among veterans, particularly among those with vitamin D deficiency and Black veterans, who showed the largest benefit.
The study highlights the potential importance of monitoring and treating low vitamin D levels as part of suicide prevention strategies.
The research was conducted by Jill Lavigne and colleagues and published in PLOS ONE.
