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Depressed adolescents in a case-series were low in vitamin D and depression was ameliorated by vitamin D supplementation
Acta Pediatrica, 03/15/2012
Hogberg G et al. – This study showed low levels of vitamin D in 54 depressed adolescents, positive correlation between vitamin D and well–being, and improved symptoms related to depression and vitamin D deficiency after vitamin D supplementation.
Methods- Serum 25OH vitamin D (25OHD) levels in 54 Swedish depressed adolescents were investigated.
- Subjects with vitamin D deficiency were given vitamin D3 over three months (n=48).
- To evaluate well-being and symptoms related to depression and vitamin D status the WHO-5 well-being scale, The Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ-S), and a vitamin D deficiency scale were used.
- Mean serum 25OHD in the depressed adolescents was 41 at baseline and 91 nmol/L (p<0.001) after supplementation.
- Basal 25OHD levels correlated positively to well-being (p<0.05).
- After vitamin D supplementation well-being increased (p<0.001) and there was a significant improvement in seven of the nine items in the vitamin D deficiency scale; in depressed feeling (p<0.001), irritability (p<0.05), (p<0.001), tiredness (p<0.001), mood swings (p<0.01), sleep difficulties (p<0.01), weakness (p<0.05), ability to concentrate (p<0.05) and pain (p<0.05).
- There was a significant amelioration of depression according to the MFQ-S (p<0.05)
