Effect of vitamin D supplement on depression scores in people with low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D:
nested case–control study and randomised clinical trial

Marie Kjærgaard, Knut Waterloo, Catharina E. A. Wang, Bjørg Almås, Yngve Figenschau, Moira S. Hutchinson, Johan Svartberg and Rolf Jorde
Correspondence: Marie Kjærgaard, Medical Clinic, University Hospital of North Norway N-9038 Tromsø, Norway. Email: marie.kjaergaard@unn.no
BJ Psych July 12, 2012, doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.111.104349

Aims To compare depressive symptoms in participants with low and high serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and to examine whether supplementation with vitamin D3 would improve symptoms in those with low serum 25(OH)D levels.

Method Participants with low 25(OH)D levels were randomised to either placebo or 40 000 IU vitamin D3 per week for 6 months. Individuals with high serum 25(OH)D levels were used as nested controls. Depressive symptoms were evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Seasonal Pattern Assessment Scale and Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00960232).

Results Participants with low 25(OH)D levels (n = 230) at baseline were more depressed (P<0.05) than participants with high 25(OH)D levels (n = 114).
In the intervention study no significant effect of high-dose vitamin D was found on depressive symptom scores when compared with placebo.

Conclusions Low levels of serum 25(OH)D are associated with depressive symptoms, but no effect was found with vitamin D supplementation.
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See also VitaminDWiki

• All items in depression and vitamin D 268 items
• 36 percent less depression when have high level of vitamin D – July 2011 also by Kjærgaard
• Teens no longer depressed after vitamin D raised to 36 ng – Feb 2012
  The teen study used a loading dose for 1 month, and got great results in just 3 months
• Much less depression if more than 43 ng of vitamin D – Oct 2012

See also web

• Medscape review of article
• Vitamin D Council review of article
  After 6 months, the vitamin D group’s vitamin D levels rose from 19 ng/ml to a mean level of 59 ng/ml
  The authors note that the biggest limitation in their study was study length at 6 months in a disorder that may take several years to develop.
• Clinical Trials for Depression with vitamin D intervention 22 INTERVENTION trials listed as of Jan 2013