Study: Vitamin D and depression

reference

Ganji V, Milone C, Cody MM, McCarty F, Wang YT. Serum vitamin D concentrations are associated with depression among young adults in the United States: the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Int Arch MeD. 2010;3:29.

design

This is a large cross-sectional population study. The study sample initially included 18,875 participants. The final sample size included 7,970 U.S. noninstitutionalized civilian participants aged 15 to 39 years after exclusion for pregnancy and breastfeeding. Serum vitamin D concentrations were measured and a diagnostic assessment of depression was performed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS).

Key findings

The authors found a direct connection between vitamin D deficiency and the depression variable. The prevalence of suboptimal serum vitamin D concentrations (<75 nmol/L) was approximately 50%, and 20% were below 50 nmol/L.

Higher prevalence was found in women, non-Hispanic blacks, those with higher body mass index, those with lower income, urban residents, and those living in the South.

restrictions

Data collection occurred in different months—summer in the Northeast and Midwest and winter in the South. This could significantly change the prevalence of identified vitamin D deficiency.

Effects on practice

The role of vitamin D in depression is not fully understood. It may play a role in regulating neurotransmitters and oxidative activity related to glutathione metabolism.¹This large population study observed a significantly higher likelihood of depression in those with vitamin D deficiency. Although future research needs to be conducted to assess causality, physicians can still assess individual vitamin D levels in patients with depression and treat accordingly.