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Vitamin D and depression.

Robert H Howland¹

¹Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. HowlandRH@upmc.edu

Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services

|January 26, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Vitamin D is crucial for bone health and may influence mood. Current research shows a possible link between low vitamin D levels and depression, but evidence for its effectiveness as a treatment is insufficient.

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Area of Science:

Nutritional Neuroscience
Clinical Psychology

Background:

Vitamin D is essential for bone health and has other physiological roles.
Investigating vitamin D's role in depressive disorders is warranted due to potential links.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the evidence on the association between vitamin D levels and depression.
To assess the effectiveness of vitamin D as a therapy for depression.

Main Methods:

Review of cross-sectional clinical and epidemiological studies.
Evaluation of available treatment studies on vitamin D for depression.

Main Results:

Some studies indicate an association between low vitamin D levels and increased depressive symptoms or diagnosis.
Methodological criticisms exist for cross-sectional studies.
Treatment studies are of poor quality, limiting assessment of vitamin D's effectiveness.

Conclusions:

Current evidence does not establish vitamin D deficiency as a cause or risk factor for depression.
The effectiveness of vitamin D as a therapy for depression remains inadequately demonstrated.