Association of Serum Vitamin D with Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Early Pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate associations between early pregnancy 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations and antepartum depression and anxiety symptoms and potential modifiers thereof. Materials and Methods: In a pregnancy cohort (N = 498), we examined cross-sectional associations of early pregnancy (mean = 15.4 weeks gestation) serum 25[OH]D concentrations and depression and anxiety symptoms. Symptoms were measured using Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21) and Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Module (PHQ-9) instruments. Regression models were fit and effect modification by prepregnancy body mass index and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) were assessed using interaction terms and stratified analyses. ( < 28.9 ng/mL) had 1.11 higher PHQ-9 scores than those in the highest quartile ( ‡ 39.5 ng/mL, p < 0.05). However, associations were attenuated and statistically insignificant in fully adjusted models. Inverse associations of 25[OH]D with depression symptoms were significant among participants who reported no LTPA, but not among women who reported any LTPA (interaction p = 0.018). Conclusions: Our study provides modest evidence for inverse cross-sectional associations of early pregnancy maternal vitamin D concentrations with antepartum depression symptoms. We also observed that these associations may be modified by physical activity.

The Relationship Between Vitamin D and Postpartum Depression in Reproductive-Aged Iranian Women

“…Huang et al recruited 498 women in their early gestation for a study and assessed the relation between vitamin D and depression and anxiety. Results showed that with a 1ng/mL decrease in 25[OH] D, the risk of anxiety and depression increased by 0.043 and 0.040 (p-values=0.052 and 0.029, respectively) [26]. The results of Huang et al are in line with our study.…”

Vitamin D Level, Thyroid Function, and Maternal Depression in Late Pregnancy

“…However, in several past studies, a reverse relationship was detected between maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and AND (17,43). It is worth mentioning that most of the current participants had vitamin D deficiency.…”

Blood levels of vitamin D and health‐functional status in asymptomatic individuals: a cross sectional study

“…Associations between vitamin D concentration and cognitive decline measured by the mini‐mental state examination have been reported among older adults . As well as associations between vitamin D concentration and depression established by a patient health questionnaire, among older men and pregnant women ; among young adult men, assessed using the 21‐item Depression Anxiety Stress Scales , overweight women assessed by Hospital Anxiety and Depression questionnaire , and in adults with a history of depression, defined by a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score . But no association was found in a population of young women, assessing depression by the Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire .…”