Does Vitamin D Deficiency Play a Role in Opioid Addiction?
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Vitamin D deficiency amplifies the craving for, and the effects of, opioids, potentially raising the risk for opioid dependence and addiction, new research suggests. However, some experts are urging caution in interpreting the findings. The study, which also linked vitamin D deficiency to sun-seeking behavior, points to the potential of vitamin D supplementation to help address the opioid epidemic, the investigators note.
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@sanghbarta In earlier work, researchers led by David Fisher, MD, PhD, with the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, found that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays causes the skin to produce the hormone endorphin, which is chemically related to morphine, heroin, and other opioids. They also observed that UV exposure raises endorphin levels in mice, which leads the animals to display behavior consistent with opioid addiction. In their latest research, they conducted a series of animal and human studies designed to better understand the relationship between vitamin D and UV-seeking and opioid-seeking behavior.