title: Vitamin D deficiency and depression among women from an urban community in a tropical country.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the association of vitamin D status with depression and health-related quality of life among women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study conducted among women in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity status, perceived depression and health-related quality of life were assessed via a self-administered questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were taken for the analysis of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone, fasting blood glucose and full lipid profile. Complex samples multiple logistic regression analysis was performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Public secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven hundred and seventy female teachers were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of participants was 41·15 (95 % CI 40·51, 41·78) years and the majority were ethnic Malays. Over 70 % of them had vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/ml or <50 nmol/l) and two-thirds were at risk for depression. In the multivariate analysis, ethnic Malays (adjusted OR (aOR)=14·72; 95 % CI 2·12, 102·21) and Indians (aOR=14·02; 95 % CI 2·27, 86·59), those at risk for depression (aOR=1·88, 95 % CI 1·27, 2·79) and those with higher parathyroid hormone level (aOR=1·13; 95 % CI 1·01, 1·26) were associated with vitamin D deficiency, while vitamin D deficiency was negatively associated with mental health-related quality of life (Mental Component Summary) scores (aOR=0·98; 95 % CI 0·97, 0·99).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D deficiency is significantly associated with depression and mental health-related quality of life among women in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.affiliation: 1Julius Centre University of Malaya,Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,University of Malaya,50603 Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia.
authors.forename: Foong Ming
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0306-4419
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Moy
authors.affiliation: 2Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health-UM,Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,University of Malaya,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia.
authors.forename: Victor Cw
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Hoe
authors.affiliation: 1Julius Centre University of Malaya,Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,University of Malaya,50603 Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia.
authors.forename: Noran Naqiah
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Hairi
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,University of Malaya,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia.
authors.forename: Shireene Ratna
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Vethakkan
authors.affiliation: 1Julius Centre University of Malaya,Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,University of Malaya,50603 Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia.
authors.forename: Awang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulgiba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Depression; Quality of life; Tropical country; Vitamin D deficiency; Women