title: Vitamin D and depression: is there a relationship in young women?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression is emerging as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in young adults. New biological assessment strategies such as biological markers are needed to more accurately assess for depression in this age group. Vitamin D may present such an opportunity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A descriptive correlational design with convenience sampling was used to address the research question: Is there a relationship between vitamin D serum levels and depression scores in young adult women?
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty-nine participants completed a health questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, and had serum vitamin D, 25(OH)D, levels drawn.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant correlation between vitamin D level and depression was identified. Statistically significant differences between African American and Caucasian women were detected on vitamin D levels but not on the Beck Depression Inventory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results of this study, vitamin D cannot be used as a biomarker for depression in women aged 18 to 24 years. Clinical implications of no relationship between vitamin D and depression will be explored and the cut-point for serum 25(OH)D levels will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI, USA. kwaskyan@udmercy.edu
authors.forename: Andrea N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Kwasky
authors.forename: Carla J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Groh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D