Vitamin D and depressive symptoms in women during the winter: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Research indicates that vitamin D supplementation may decrease depressive symptoms during the winter months.


METHODS
In this study, nine women with serum vitamin D levels <40 ng/ml were administered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-II. After vitamin D3 supplementation, six of these women completed the BDI-II and had their serum vitamin D levels reassessed.


RESULTS
Vitamin D supplementation was associated not only with an increase in the serum D levels by an average of 27 ng/ml but also with a decline in the BDI-II scores of an average of 10 points.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that supplemental vitamin D3 reduces depressive symptoms.
Shipowick
Clarissa Drymon
CD
Washington State University, Richland, WA 99352, USA. cshipowick@charter.net
Moore
C Barton
CB
Corbett
Cynthia
C
Bindler
Ruth
R
D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012621:Seasons; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D