Vitamin D & Mental Health: What Should Psychiatrists know? #vitamin #brainhealthawareness #wellness

Patients with depression, fatigue, chronic pain or substance use are often vitamin D deficient—and we’re simply not looking for it? Vitamin D is often associated with bone health, but its clinical relevance extends throughout the brain and body. In this evidence-grounded discussion, psychiatrist Dr. Arwen Podesta examines vitamin D deficiency, laboratory testing, neurotransmitter function, inflammation, immune regulation and practical supplementation. Dr. Arwen Podesta MD, DFASAM, DFAPA is a triple board certified physician specializing in functional psychiatry, addiction medicine, and forensic psychiatry. 🧠 Clinicians across psychiatry, addiction medicine, primary care, family medicine and internal medicine—including physicians, nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse practitioners—may encounter vitamin D deficiency in patients with depression, fatigue, chronic pain, obesity, inflammatory illness or substance use. ✅ For professional inquiries ► https://www.drarwen.com 000:00 🧪 The overlooked vitamin D question 01:23 🧬 Why vitamin D acts more like a hormone 02:04 🩺 Why clinicians should care about vitamin D 02:17 🧠 Serotonin, dopamine, neuroplasticity & inflammation 02:42 ⚖️ Association does not prove causation 03:21 🛡️ Immunity, inflammation & physiological resilience 04:04 🧪 Measuring 25-hydroxy vitamin D 04:24 📊 Lab “normal” vs. clinical optimization 04:45 ⚠️ Why megadosing can cause toxicity 05:03 ☀️ Sunlight, diet & supplementation 06:06 🩺 Treat the patient—and follow the labs 06:22 🧬 Magnesium, vitamin K2 & vitamin D activation 07:00 📋 Three practical clinical takeaways 07:19 ✅ Don’t assume—measure 08:00 🧠 Building a foundation for better brain health You may also find the video below helpful in your practice. MAGNESIUM:    • Magnesium Glycinate: Which Form Should You...   🌿⚕️FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/PodestaPsychiatry 🌿⚕️LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/in/arwenpodestamd 🌿⚕️INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/doctor.arwen 🌿⚕️CLINIC: https://podestawellness.com 🌿⚕️WEBSITE: https://www.drarwen.com 🌿⚕️BOOK: https://a.co/d/0e6Olm9x 🩺#ClinicalPsychiatry #FunctionalPsychiatry #DrPodesta 🩺#Psychiatry #PrimaryCare #AddictionMedicine 🩺#NursePractitioner #MentalHealth #BrainHealth This content is provided for professional and general education and is not individualized medical advice. #VitaminDDeficiency #VitaminD #ClinicalPsychiatry Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes. Please consult with a licensed clinician or medical provider before starting new supplements or medications 039