ATLANTA—Although evidence suggests a deficiency in vitamin D may play a role in depression, a new study of a cohort of U.S. adults found no association between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and incidence of depression (Br J Nutr. ePub 20 July 2010. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114510002588). Researchers from the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) used a cross-sectional, population-based sample of adults (n=3,916) from the 2005-06 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The research team assessed depressive symptoms and used multivariate logistic regression models to examine the associations of depression with 25(OH)D and parathyroid hormone (PTH).
While there was a linear decrease in age-adjusted prevalence and unadjusted OR of moderate-to-severe or major depression with increasing quartiles of 25(OH)D, it was not significant after adjusting for multiple potential confounders such as demographic variables or chronic conditions. There was also no difference in incidence of depression and quartiles of PTH levels. The CDC research team noted the findings contrast with other studies that have shown an association between vitamin D levels and depression, and suggest further studies are needed to further elucidate the relationship.
