#vitamind#nutrition

Vitamin D & Depression

By Charles Li, MD

TL;DR: Vitamin D vs. Depression

Studies have found a link between Vitamin D Deficiency and depression. Individuals who are depressed tend to have lower Vitamin D levels.

Likewise, those with the lowest Vitamin D levels were around twice as likely to be depressed.

However, clinical trials have not been able to find conclusive evidence supporting Vitamin D supplements.

Background

Unlike most vitamins, your body can actually make some of its own Vitamin D with the help of the sun.

Your body needs the sun’s rays to catalyze an important step in producing Vitamin D.

key facts

Type
Fat Soluble Vitamin
Source
Diet, skin
Other Names
calciferol, cholecalciferol

Appearance

used for

Bone Growth

Calcium

Immunity

Vitamin D Key Facts: Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that you obtain through your diet and through your own body's skin cells. Skin cells harness the sun to generate Vitamin D. It is also known as calciferol and cholecalciferol. Vitamin D is used for bone growth and immune system support.

How Vitamin D is Made: Skin cells are believed to create 7-Dehydrocholesterol. UVB Rays from the sun convert this to Vitamin D3. Your liver and kidneys convert this to active Vitamin D. Vitamin D is then distributed throughout the body.

Not getting enough sun can lead to Vitamin D deficiency. Together with Vitamin D that you consume, your daily Vitamin D plays important role in absorbing nutrients, keeping your bones strong, and supporting your immune system.

Vitamin D and Depression

Vitamin D has also been suspected to play a role in mental health.

Most studies that have looked at Vitamin D and depression have found a significant link.

A meta-analysis, which combined results from 10 studies, found that those with low Vitamin D are 31% more likely to be depressed.

However, as with all observational studies, this result only points to a correlation and doesn’t necessarily indicate that Vitamin D causes good mental health.

Risk of Depression

+31%

Baseline

High Vit D

Low Vit D

1.31x odds (1.0-1.7)

meta-analysis

10 Cross-sectional Studies

A meta-analysis has found a link between low Vitamin D & depression. By combining data from 10 cross sectional studies, researchers found that those with low Vitamin D have a 31% higher chance of being depressed.

"Our analyses are consistent with the hypothesis that low vitamin D concentration is associated with depression"

Vitamin D deficiency and depression in adults: systematic review and meta-analysis

Clinical Trials: Vitamin D & Depression

Clinical trials of Vitamin D have so far been unable to confirm this link. One trial of nearly 20,000 volunteers gave Vitamin D to some and a placebo to others. Those that received Vitamin D were slightly less likely to get depression. However, the results were not significant.

Risk of Depression

No Difference

Baseline

Placebo

Vit. D Supplements

0.97x (0.87-1.09)

n=18,353

Non-depressed, Older than 50

Duration: 5.3 years

Clinical trials of Vitamin D as a treatment for depression have not found significant benefit. Those given Vitamin D supplements in the trial above did not experience significantly less depression than those who were not given supplements.

Among adults aged 50 years or older without clinically relevant depressive symptoms at baseline, treatment with vitamin D3 compared with placebo did not result in a statistically significant difference in the incidence and recurrence of depression or clinically relevant depressive symptoms or for change in mood scores over a median follow-up of 5.3 years.

Effect of Long-term Vitamin D3 Supplementation vs Placebo on Risk of Depression or Clinically Relevant Depressive Symptoms and on Change in Mood Scores