Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and mental health in young Australian women: Results from the Safe-D study.
While there is evidence linking vitamin D status with mood, this association and its clinical significance remain uncertain. Moreover, few studies have focused on young, community-dwelling females. The Safe-D study examined the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels and mental health in young women.



Participants completed an online questionnaire, wore a UV dosimeter to measure personal sun exposure and underwent a comprehensive health assessment. Serum 25OHD was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in 353 healthy women aged 16-25 years, living in Victoria, Australia. Mental health measures included: Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Kessler psychological distress scale (K10) and 12-item short-form health survey (SF-12), plus any self-reported mental disorder diagnoses or medication use.



The prevalence of self-reported mental disorder was 26% and of vitamin D deficiency 27%. The median (Q1, Q3) scores for the PHQ-9, GAD-7, K10 and SF-12 MCS were 6 (3, 9), 5 (2, 8), 19 (15, 25) and 43 (34, 49), respectively. Serum 25OHD levels were not associated with mental health scores. Vitamin D status was not associated with a reported diagnosis of depression or anxiety.



There was a low prevalence of severe vitamin D deficiency and mental health symptoms, which may reduce study power.



Our findings do not support an association between serum 25OHD levels and mental health status in young women. Longitudinal studies and randomized clinical trials investigating vitamin D and mood in young women are needed to confirm and extend these results.
The University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: etcallegari@gmail.com.
Emma T
ET
Callegari
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Nicola
N
Reavley
Melbourne EpiCentre, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Alexandra
A
Gorelik
The University of Melbourne, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Suzanne M
SM
Garland
The University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Bone and Mineral Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
John D
JD
Wark
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report; D014739:Victoria; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
25-hydroxyvitamin D; Anxiety; Depression; Mental health; Safe-D study; Stress