Vitamin D supplementation appears to relieve symptoms of depression in adults

Summary: Results of an extensive meta-analysis revealed that vitamin D supplementation may help relieve symptoms of depression.

source: University of Eastern Finland

A comprehensive meta-analysis suggests that vitamin D supplementation may relieve depressive symptoms in depressed adults. Conducted by an international team of researchers, the meta-analysis includes dozens of studies from around the world.

Symptoms of depression cause a significant burden of disease worldwide. The therapeutic efficacy of current antidepressants is often insufficient, which is why other methods of relieving depressive symptoms have been sought, for example, from nutritional research.

Vitamin D is thought to regulate central nervous system functions, disorders of which have been linked to depression. Additionally, cross-sectional studies have noted an association between depressive symptoms and vitamin D deficiency.

However, previous meta-analyses on the effects of vitamin D supplementation on depression have been inconclusive. In a meta-analysis, the results of several different studies are combined and analyzed statistically.

The new meta-analysis on the association of vitamin D supplementation with depression is the largest published to date, including results from 41 studies from around the world.

These studies investigated the efficacy of vitamin D in relieving depressive symptoms in adults through randomized, placebo-controlled trials in different population groups.

The studies included those of depressed patients, the general population, and people with various physical conditions.

Results of a meta-analysis show that vitamin D supplementation is more effective than a placebo in relieving depressive symptoms in people with depression. There were significant differences in the doses of vitamin D used, but typically a vitamin D supplement was 50-100 mcg per day.

“Despite the broad scope of this meta-analysis, the certainty of the evidence remains low due to the heterogeneity of the populations studied and because of the risk of bias associated with a large number of studies,” doctoral researcher and lead author Thomas Mikkola says of the Institute of Clinical Medicine at the University of Eastern Finland. The meta-analysis is part of Mikola’s PhD thesis. hypothesis.

Mikola concludes, “These findings will encourage new, high-level clinical trials in depressed patients in order to shed more light on the potential role of vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of depression.”

The meta-analysis was published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition It was carried out in international cooperation between Finnish, Australian and American researchers.

About this depression and vitamin D research news

author: press office
source: University of Eastern Finland
Contact: Press Office – University of Eastern Finland
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“The effect of vitamin D supplementation on depressive symptoms in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsBy Thomas Mikola et al. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition

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Summary

The effect of vitamin D supplementation on depressive symptoms in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

The neurological and immunological effects of vitamin D may regulate the physiology associated with depression. Meta-analyses looking at the effect of vitamin D on depression have been inconsistent.

This meta-analysis investigated the efficacy of vitamin D in reducing depressive symptoms among adults in a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

The general and clinical population, and studies of individual patients with systemic disease were included. Phototherapy, combined supplements (excluding calcium) and bipolar disorder were excluded.

The Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify relevant English-language articles published before April 2022. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (RoB 2) and GRADE were used to evaluate the studies. forty-one RCTs (n= 53235). Analyzes based on random effects models were performed using comprehensive meta-analysis software.

main result results (n=53,235) showed a positive effect of vitamin D on depressive symptoms (Hedges’ g= −0.317, 95% CI [−0.405, −0.230]And the s<0.001, i² = 88.16%; Score: very low certainty). The evaluation of RoB was worrisome in most studies. Despite the high heterogeneity, 2,000 IU/day vitamin D supplementation appears to reduce symptoms of depression.

Future research should investigate the potential benefits of increasing standard vitamin D therapies in clinical depression.

PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42020149760. Funding: Finnish Medical Corporation, grant 4120 and Juho Vainio Foundation, grant 202100353.