Knowledge and Awareness of the Relationship Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Depression Among a Sample of Adults in...

Vitamin D deficiency is a common nutritional issue that can lead to serious health consequences. Despite abundant sunlight, factors such as poor absorption, insufficient exposure, and increased demand contribute to this deficiency. Vitamin D plays a crucial role not only in bone health but also in mental well-being, with links to depression and other mood disorders.

This cross-sectional study involved a sample of 477 adults aged 18 years and above from Saudi Arabia. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected through an online questionnaire. Statistical analysis, including descriptive and inferential methods, was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY).

The results of the study indicate that among 477 participants surveyed, 323 (67.7%) reported having vitamin D deficiency, whereas 112 participants (23.5%) reported having experienced depression in the past. Of those who reported having experienced depression in the past, 80 persons (71.4%) felt that their depression was caused by vitamin D deficiency. The results also reveal that there is a gender difference in regards to vitamin D deficiency, with more females (230, 71.2%) being affected as compared to the male gender (93, 28.8%) (P=0.001). Further, results reveal that more Saudi (287, 88.9%) nationals were affected by vitamin deficiency as compared to 36 (11.1%) non-Saudis (p=0.015).

This study found that both vitamin D deficiency and depression are common among the population in Saudi Arabia. Many participants believed their experience of depression was linked to vitamin D deficiency, although this was based on self-reported perceptions rather than clinical diagnoses. While general awareness of vitamin D sources and benefits was relatively high, understanding of its broader health impacts was relatively low. The study also identified gender and nationality as important factors associated with vitamin D deficiency. Health professionals should incorporate structured patient education initiatives, such as dedicating an additional five to 10 minutes during clinical appointments to discuss vitamin D's role in mental and physical health and developing informational brochures to be distributed in clinics and pharmacies.