title: Vitamin D supplementation and depression in the women's health initiative calcium and vitamin D trial.
abstract: While observational studies have suggested that vitamin D deficiency increases risk of depression, few clinical trials have tested whether vitamin D supplementation affects the occurrence of depression symptoms. The authors evaluated the impact of daily supplementation with 400 IU of vitamin D(3) combined with 1,000 mg of elemental calcium on measures of depression in a randomized, double-blinded US trial comprising 36,282 postmenopausal women. The Burnam scale and current use of antidepressant medication were used to assess depressive symptoms at randomization (1995-2000). Two years later, women again reported on their antidepressant use, and 2,263 completed a second Burnam scale. After 2 years, women randomized to receive vitamin D and calcium had an odds ratio for experiencing depressive symptoms (Burnam score ≥0.06) of 1.16 (95% confidence interval: 0.86, 1.56) compared with women in the placebo group. Supplementation was not associated with antidepressant use (odds ratio = 1.01, 95% confidence interval: 0.92, 1.12) or continuous depressive symptom score. Results stratified by baseline vitamin D and calcium intake, solar irradiance, and other factors were similar. The findings do not support a relation between supplementation with 400 IU/day of vitamin D(3) along with calcium and depression in older women. Additional trials testing higher doses of vitamin D are needed to determine whether this nutrient may help prevent or treat depression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, 409 Arnold House, 715 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003-9304, USA. ebertone@schoolph.umass.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Bertone-Johnson
authors.forename: Sally I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spangler
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Yvonne L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Millen
authors.forename: Maria N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Bueche
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salmoirago-Blotcher
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wassertheil-Smoller
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ockene
authors.forename: Judith K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ockene
authors.forename: Simin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Joann E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Manson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D057566:Self Report; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014815:Vitamins; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D002118:Calcium