Vitamin D deficiency and depression in adults: systematic review and meta-analysis
Key Finding
Low vitamin D levels are significantly associated with depression, and supplementation improves depressive symptoms.
Plain-English Summary
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the relationship between vitamin D levels and depression across multiple studies. The analysis included observational studies comparing vitamin D levels between depressed and non-depressed individuals.
Results revealed a significant association between low vitamin D levels and depression. Individuals with lower vitamin D concentrations had substantially higher odds of depression compared to those with adequate levels. The relationship was consistent across different populations and study designs.
The meta-analysis also examined intervention studies and found that vitamin D supplementation was associated with improvements in depressive symptoms, particularly in individuals with clinical depression and low baseline vitamin D levels. The findings support the importance of maintaining adequate vitamin D status for mental health. Typical therapeutic doses range from 2000-5000 IU daily.