Vitamin D and Omega-3 have a larger effect on depression than antidepressants

Summary

⏱ This post is over years old. Proceed at own risk. (content note: scientific discussion of depression & suicide) "Too Long; Didn't Read" Summary: Exactly what the title says. The "standardised effect size" of antidepressants on depression, vs placebo, is around 0.4. (This is like going from an average C to a C+.) In contrast, the effect size of 1500mg/day of "≥60% EPA" Omega-3 supplements — which are cheaper & have fewer side effects than antidepressants — is a bit higher, around 0.6. (This is like going from a C to a B–.) But, much better: the effect size of 5000mg/day of Vitamin D is around 1.8! (This is like going from a C to an A–!) It works even for people who don't have a Vitamin D insufficiency, which almost half of American adults do. Even if you're already taking Vitamin D & Omega-3, you may still not be taking enough. The "official" recommendations are all 3 to 10 times too low. Both these supplements are safe, cheap, and over-the-counter, with positive side-effects (on Covid & cognition). So, unless you have specific reasons to not take Vitamin D & Omega-3 — (kidney stones, blood thinners, etc) — please try them, for at least a month! They could save your mental health. Maybe even your life. Table of Contents: A crash course in "effect sizes" ↪ Interpreting effect sizes on depression ↪ Antidepressants ↪ Omega-3 ↪ Vitamin D ↪ Conclusion: All this time, you lacked the Vitamin? ↪ A crash course in "effect sizes" In Alicetown, the average person has 4 younger cousins. In Bobtown, the average person has 3 younger cousins. Alright, not so surprising. You may not even notice a difference. In Alicetown, the average person has 4 limbs. In Bobtown, the average person has 3 limbs. You'd definitely notice. It's the same absolute difference (4 vs 3) and relative difference (3/4). So what makes limbs more surprising than cousins? Well, partly it's more dramatic & visible, but also because: we expect high variation in the number of someone's younger cousins, but not th...