95 percent of depressed patients in Egypt had low vitamin D

Created December 2019

Relation between vitamin D level and severity, symptomatology and cognitive dysfunction of major depressive disorder—A sample of Egyptian patients

Neurology, Psychiatry and Brain Research. Volume 35, February 2020, Pages 10-15, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.npbr.2019.12.001

Sandra W.ElseesyaTamerGoueliaAkmalMostafaaAlaaAfifbMohamed A.Khalila

1. Depression summary {include} Depression substantially reduced by Vitamin D, Omega-3, Magnesium, etc – many studies Yet another study confirms Depression is treated by weekly Vitamin D (50,000 IU)– RCT Dec 2019 1. Intervention of Vitamin D for Depression {category} --- 1. Meta-analyses of Vitamin D and Depression {category}

Background: Vitamin D helps in the regulation of neurotransmission and neuroprotection. Therefore, vitamin D deficiency might lead to inactivated receptors and may result in depression.

Aim: The study assessed the relation between serum level of vitamin D and severity, symptomatology and cognitive dysfunction of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in a sample of Egyptian patients.

Methods

Serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D were measured with electro-chemiluminescence binding assay in 75 patients with MDD. Vitamin D deficiency was described as <20 ng/ml. Patients were recruited from Psychiatry and Addiction Hospital, Kasr Al Ainy outpatient clinic. Patients were subjected to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders(SCID), Hamilton depression scale (HAM-D), Mini- mental status examination (MMSE), Wechsler memory subtests (story A and paired associate learning test (PALT)), Benton visual retention test (BVRT) and Trail B test.

Results

94.6 % of patients had vitamin D deficiency. There was no significant correlation between levels of vitamin D and severity of depression according to HAM-D. Regarding symptoms of depression, there was a statistically significant difference between levels of vitamin D, being more deficient with genital symptoms: decreased libido and menstrual disturbances. There was no statistically significant correlation between level of vitamin D and cognitive functions.

Conclusion

MDD was associated with vitamin D deficiency but no statistical significant correlation could be established neither between levels of vitamin D and severity of depression nor between levels of vitamin D and cognitive dysfunction. Vitamin D level was statistically correlated with decreased libido and menstrual disturbances.

Tags: Depression