title: The associations among vitamin D deficiency, C-reactive protein, and depressive symptoms.
abstract: Vitamin D deficiency has been reported to be associated with depression, but the underlying mechanisms aren't well understood. Our study aims to investigate the associations among serum vitamin D, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and depressive symptoms.
  
  
  
  Serum levels of Vitamin D and CRP were measured from 52,228 participants. Depressive symptoms were assessed using a Korean version of the CES-D scale. We used logistic regression to calculate the odds ratio (ORs) of depressive symptoms according to vitamin D and CRP levels. The regressions were adjusted for covariates, and each model was adjusted mutually for vitamin D and CRP levels.
  
  
  
  A significant difference was found in vitamin D status between depressed and non-depressed participants, but CRP status was not significantly different. The OR for the presence of depressive symptoms was significantly increased in participants with vitamin D deficiency after adjusting for potentially confounding factors (Adjusted OR=1.158, 95% CI=1.003-1.336, p=0.046). The OR of depressive symptoms was not significantly increased in individuals with high (3.01-10mg/L) CRP level compared to individuals with low (≤3mg/L) CRP level (Adjusted OR=1.004, 95% CI=0.821-1.227, p=0.97). There was no significant association between vitamin D and CRP level. Additional adjustment for serum CRP level did not weaken the resulting association between vitamin D deficiency and the presence of depressive symptoms.
  
  
  
  Vitamin D deficiency was associated with depressive symptoms, but elevated serum CRP level was not. The results indicate that CRP level does not account for the association between vitamin D deficiency and the presence of depressive symptoms.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Workplace Mental Health Institute, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Young-Chul
authors: YC
authors: Shin
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Chan-Hyun
authors: CH
authors: Jung
authors: Workplace Mental Health Institute, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hyung-Jun
authors: HJ
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Workplace Mental Health Institute, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Eun-Jin
authors: EJ
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Workplace Mental Health Institute, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: healthysewon@daum.net.
authors: Se-Won
authors: SW
authors: Lim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014807:Vitamin D; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: C-reactive protein; Depressive symptom; Vitamin D