- Depressive symptoms and vitamin D were measured in 185 healthy women across 4 weeks.
- Significant symptoms and vitamin D insufficiency were common, and differed by season.
- Initially low vitamin D levels were associated with clinically significant depressive symptoms across follow-up.
- Between-subjects differences in depression by season were partially explained by seasonal changes in vitamin D.
- Racial-ethnic differences in depression were partially explained by group differences in vitamin D levels.
Associations between vitamin D levels and depressive symptoms in healthy young adult women
Kerr DCR, Zava DT, Piper WT, Saturn SR, Frei B, Gombart AF (2015) Psychiatry Research DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2015.02.016
Abstract:
Highlights
Abstract
There have been few studies of whether vitamin D insufficiency is linked with depression in healthy young women despite women׳s high rates of both problems.
Female undergraduates (n=185) living in the Pacific Northwest during fall, winter, and spring academic terms completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale weekly for 4 weeks (W1–W5).
We measured serum levels of vitamin D3 and C (ascorbate; as a control variable) in blood samples collected at W1 and W5.
Vitamin D insufficiency (Lower W1 vitamin D3 predicted clinically significant depressive symptoms across W1–W5 (β=−0.20, p<0.05), controlling for season, BMI, race/ethnicity, diet, exercise, and time outside. There was some evidence that lower levels of depressive symptoms in Fall participants (vs. Winter and Spring) were explained by their higher levels of vitamin D3. W1 depressive symptoms did not predict change in vitamin D3 levels from W1 to W5.
Findings are consistent with a temporal association between low levels of vitamin D and clinically meaningful depressive symptoms. The preventive value of supplementation should be tested further.
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Please see the related news item here:For more research in this area, see also:
- Stewart et al., 2014 - Possible contributions of skin pigmentation and vitamin D in a polyfactorial model of seasonal affective disorder
- Eyles et al 2013 - Vitamin D, effects on brain development, adult brain function and the links between low vitamin D and neuropsychiatric disease
- Hedelin et al 2010 - Dietary intake of fish, omega-3, omega-6 PUFA and vitamin D and psychotic-like symptoms in women from the general population.
- Cherniack et al 2009 - Some new food for thought: the role of vitamin D in the mental health of older adults.
- Pan et al 2009 - Association between depressive symptoms and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in middle-aged and elderly Chinese.
- Hoogendijk et al 2008 - Depression is associated with decreased 25-hydroxyvitamin D and increased parathyroid hormone levels in older adults.
- Jorde et al 2008 - Effects of vitamin D supplementation on symptoms of depression in overweight and obese subjects: randomized double blind trial.
- McCann & Ames 2008 - Is there convincing biological or behavioral evidence linking vitamin D deficiency to brain dysfunction?
- Murphy & Wagner 2008 - Vitamin D and mood disorders among women: an integrative review.
- Hyppönen et al., 2007 - Hypovitaminosis D in British adults at age 45 y: nationwide cohort study of dietary and lifestyle predictors.
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