Michael's Note:
Like the study that showed less anxiety for drug addicts when given high doses of omega-3 (fish oil) fats, this study indicated that optimal-dose Vitamin D supplementation might reduce decreases in dopamine and serotonin when methamphetamine is used and thus, hypothetically reduce craving for the drug.
Vitamin D's active metabolite has potent effects in upregulating dopamine and serotonin and protecting against damage to neurons (nerve cells). Rats were given 16 times the dose of methamphetamine (speed) that human substance abusers use, which amounts to about 400 mg four times a day. While a radical increase in body temperature that occurs with methamphetamine use that might cause damage to neurons still happened, the neurotoxic damage to the dopamamine and serotonin cells in the brain was reduced significantly.
Caveat: This is a study that was conducted using rats, not humans, so one of my medical doctor friends criticized me for promoting the idea it might work in humans before it is proven. To him and others with that perspective I say: In its optimal dosage range, Vitamin D is not toxic like prescription drugs or even over-the-counter drugs can be.
If people who suffer have to wait for a study to prove this hypothesis, many, many people will continue to suffer. Why wait for a study to prove something like this if the information might help even one person? The question is what dose might help? The No Observed Adverse Effect Level for Vitamin D is 2400 IU per day. So this is safe. I take 3000 IU per day to prevent cancers based on blood tests. Since the Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level for Vitamin D for long-term use is 3800 IU I would not promote taking doses near 3800 IU. I do suggest that people ask their doctor for a "25-OH Vitamin D" blood test and work with them to find a best individual dose. Everyone is different, so it is best to get a blood test. Optimal blood levels to reduce risk of cancers and other diseases, according to experts, are in the 70 nm/L or higher range. Ask your doctor to work with you to find an optimal dose.
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Cass, WA, et al. Calcitriol protects against the dopamine and serotonin-depleting effects of neurotoxic doses of methamphetamine. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Aug;1074:261-71.
Abstract:
Repeated methamphetamine (METH) administration to animals can result in long-lasting decreases in brain dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) content. Calcitriol, the active metabolite of vitamin D, has potent effects on brain cells, both in vitro and in vivo, including the ability to upregulate trophic factors and protect against various lesions. The present experiments were designed to examine the ability of calcitriol to protect against METH-induced reductions in striatal and nucleus accumbens levels of DA and 5-HT. Male Fischer-344 rats were administered vehicle or calcitriol (1 microg/kg, s.c.) once a day for eight consecutive days. After the seventh day of treatment the animals were given METH (5 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline four times in 1 day at 2-h intervals. Seven days later the striata and accumbens were harvested from the animals for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of monoamines and metabolites. In animals treated with vehicle and METH, there were significant reductions in DA, 5-HT, and their metabolites in both the striatum and accumbens. In animals treated with calcitriol and METH, the magnitude of the METH-induced reductions in DA, 5-HT, and metabolites was substantially and significantly attenuated. The calcitriol treatments did not reduce the hyperthermia associated with multiple injections of METH, indicating that the neuroprotective effects of calcitriol are not due to the prevention of increases in body temperature. These results suggest that calcitriol can provide significant protection against the DA- and 5-HT-depleting effects of neurotoxic doses of METH.