Depression in psychiatric youths reduced 28 percent after just 1 month of vitamin D – RCT Feb 2020

Effect of vitamin D deficiency on depressive symptoms in child and adolescent patients: results of a randomized controlled trial

European Journal of Nutrition (2020)
Lars Libuda, Nina Timmesfeld, Jochen Antel, Raphael Hirtz, Jens Bauer, Dagmar Führer, Denise Zwanziger, Dana Öztürk, Gina Langenbach, Denise Hahn, Stefanie Ring, Triinu Peters, Anke Hinney, Judith Bühlmeier, Johannes Hebebrand, Corinna Grasemann & Manuel Föcker

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Purpose
While observational studies revealed inverse associations between serum vitamin D levels 25(OH)D and depression, randomized controlled trials (RCT) in children and adolescents are lacking. This RCT examined the effect of an untreated vitamin D deficiency compared to an immediate vitamin D3 supplementation on depression scores in children and adolescents during standard day and in-patient psychiatric treatment.

Methods
Patients with vitamin D deficiency 25(OH)D ≤ 30 nmol/l and at least mild depression Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) > 13 (n = 113) were 1:1 randomized into verum (VG; 2640 IU vitamin D3/d) or placebo group (PG) in a double-blind manner. During the intervention period of 28 days, both groups additionally received treatment as usual. BDI-II scores were assessed as primary outcome, DISYPS-II (Diagnostic System for Mental Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence, Self- and Parent Rating) and serum total 25(OH)D were secondary outcomes.

Results
At admission, 49.3% of the screened patients (n = 280) had vitamin D deficiency. Although the intervention led to a higher increase of 25(OH)D levels in the VG than in the PG (treatment difference: + 14 ng/ml; 95% CI 4.86–23.77; p = 0.003), the change in BDI-II scores did not differ (+ 1.3; 95% CI − 2.22 to 4.81; p = 0.466). In contrast, DISYPS parental ratings revealed pronounced improvements of depressive symptoms in the VG (− 0.68; 95% CI − 1.23 to − 0.13; p = 0.016).

Conclusion
Whereas this study failed to show a vitamin D supplementation effect on self-rated depression in adolescent in- or daycare patients, parents reported less depressive symptoms in VG at the end of our study. Future trials should consider clinician-rated depressive symptoms as primary outcome.