Depression and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in older adults living at northern latitudes – AGES-Reykjavik Study

Abstract

Low vitamin D status may be associated with depression. Few studies have examined vitamin D and depression in older adults living at northern latitudes. The present study cross-sectionally investigated serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status and depression among 5006 community-dwelling older persons (66–96 years) living in Iceland (latitudes 64–66°N). Depressive symptoms were measured by the fifteen-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Current major depressive disorder was assessed according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) criteria. Serum 25(OH)D was analysed using chemiluminescence immunoassay and categorised into three groups: deficient (<30 nmol/l); inadequate (30–49·9 nmol/l); and adequate (≥50 nmol/l). There were twenty-eight (2 %) men and fifty (1 %) women with current major depressive disorder. Mean GDS-15 scores for men and women with adequate vitamin D concentrations were 2·1 and 2·2, respectively. Men and women with deficient v. adequate vitamin D status had more depressive symptoms (higher GDS-15 scores) (difference 0·7 (95 % CI 0·4, 0·9) and 0·4 (95 % CI 0·1, 0·6), respectively). Furthermore, men with deficient vitamin D status were more likely to have current major depressive disorder (adjusted OR 2·51; 95 % CI 1·03, 6·13) compared with men with adequate vitamin D status. Associations among women were not significant. In this older population living at northern latitudes, deficient vitamin D status may be associated with depression. Further investigations are warranted to evaluate the pathways that may be associated with risk of depression among older adults.

A cross-sectional study on nutrient intake and -status in inflammatory bowel disease patients

“…Nearly two thirds of the patients had 25OHD below the threshold of 50 nmol/L. Considering previous Icelandic studies on vitamin D, it shows that in our participants there was a similar or somewhat higher prevalence of inadequate 25OHD (60 %) as compared to community dwelling old adults (41–50 %) [ 26 ], geriatric hospitalized patients (56 %) [ 27 ] and young adults (61 %) [ 28 ]. Considering this low intake of dairy products along with low 25OHD levels, more supervision and education/guidance to the patients seems to be of importance in order to reduce the risk osteoporosis can be considered as beneficial.…”

The MooDFOOD project: Prevention of depression through nutritional strategies

“…) and that men with low vitamin D levels (<30 nmol/l) were twice as likely to be depressed as men with levels above 50 nmol/l (Imai et al . ).…”

“…The Netherlands 2981 Dutch Persons with depression and/or anxiety disorder (n = 2329) and controls (n = 652) 18-65 2004-2007 2005-2008, 2006-2009, 2008-2011, 2010-2013, 2013-2016 35-55 1985-1994 1989-1990, 1991-1993, 1995-1996, 1997-1998, 2001, 2002-2004, 2006, 2007-2009, 2011(pilot), 2012-2013, 2015-2016 20-102 1998-2000 2001-2003, 2004-2006, 2007-2009, 2013- in vegetables, olive oil, wholegrains, fruit, fish and moderate in wine and red and processed meat) might be protective against depressive symptoms (Vermeulen et al 2016) and that men with low vitamin D levels (<30 nmol/l) were twice as likely to be depressed as men with levels above 50 nmol/l (Imai et al 2015). Cohort analyses on the relation of obesity with depression revealed that over a 6-year period both elevated BMI and waist circumference moderately increased the odds of developing a major depressive disorder (by 17%) and that compared to healthy controls, current major depressive disorder patients have greater odds of either gaining or losing weight over a 2-year period, regardless of antidepressant use (Gibson-Smith et al 2015).…”

Change in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parallel change in depressive symptoms in Dutch older adults

“…Paired-samples t-tests were performed to assess whether changes over time in 25 The associations between change in 25(OH)D and change in depressive symptoms over 13 or 6 years were analysed by multivariable linear regression analysis. Based on previous studies on 25(OH)D and depression (11,14,15,24), sex was examined as a potential effect modifier. Another potential effect modifier was baseline serum 25(OH)D concentration, as this may influence the change in serum 25(OH)D (45).…”

“…In many crosssectional studies, lower 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms or depression (e.g. (10,11)), while in others, vitamin D and depression were not associated (12,13). Prospective studies showed a higher incidence of depressive symptoms or depression over 1-6 years in older persons who had low baseline vitamin D levels (14,15,16,17,18).…”