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Effect of Long-term Vitamin D3 Supplementation vs Placebo on Risk of Depression or Clinically Relevant Depressive

Olivia I Okereke1,2,3, Charles F Reynolds4, David Mischoulon1

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Vitamin D3 supplementation did not significantly reduce the risk of depression or improve mood scores in adults over 50. These findings suggest vitamin D3 is not effective for preventing depression in this population.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Nutritional Psychiatry
  • Clinical Trials

Background:

  • Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are linked to increased depression risk later in life.
  • Large-scale, long-term trials investigating high-dose vitamin D3 for depression prevention are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D3 supplementation in preventing depression and improving mood in older adults.

Main Methods:

  • The VITAL-DEP randomized clinical trial involved over 18,000 adults aged 50+.
  • Participants received 2000 IU/day of vitamin D3 or a placebo for a median of 5.3 years.
  • Depression risk and mood scores (PHQ-8) were primary outcome measures.

Main Results:

  • Vitamin D3 supplementation showed no statistically significant difference in depression incidence or recurrence compared to placebo.
  • No significant improvements in mood scores were observed between the vitamin D3 and placebo groups.
  • The hazard ratio for depression or clinically relevant depressive symptoms was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.87 to 1.09).

Conclusions:

  • Vitamin D3 supplementation did not significantly reduce the risk of depression or improve mood in adults aged 50 years or older.
  • The study does not support the use of vitamin D3 for the prevention of depression in this demographic.
  • Further research may explore other factors influencing vitamin D's role in mood disorders.