title: Vitamin D and depression.
abstract: To examine whether vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency is associated with depression and whether vitamin D supplementation is an effective treatment for depression.
  
  
  
  Empirical papers published in recent years were identified using three search engines and online databases - PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane Database. Specific search terms used were 'vitamin D', 'depression' and 'treatment' and articles were selected that examined the association between vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency and depression, vitamin D supplementation and Vitamin D as a treatment for depression. Our review weighted more recent studies (from 2011), although also considered earlier publications.
  
  
  
  Empirical studies appear to provide increasing evidence for an association between vitamin D insufficiency and depression, and for vitamin D supplementation and augmentation in those with clinical depression who are vitamin D deficient. Methodological limitations associated with many of the studies are detailed.
  
  
  
  Articles were restricted to those in the English language while publication bias may have weighted studies with positive findings.
  
  
  
  There remains a need for empirical studies to move beyond cross-sectional designs to undertake more randomised controlled longitudinal trials so as to clarify the role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of depression and its management, as well as to establish whether currently suggested associations are clinically significant and distinctive.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Black Dog Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: g.parker@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Gordon B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Black Dog Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brotchie
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Black Dog Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D036262:Empirical Research; D006801:Humans; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012621:Seasons; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Augmentation; Depression; Supplementation; Treatment; Vitamin D