Vitamin D deficiency is associated with anxiety and depression in fibromyalgia

Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a complex problem in which symptoms of anxiety and depression feature prominently. Low levels of vitamin D have been frequently reported in fibromyalgia, but no relationship was demonstrated with anxiety and depression. Seventy-five Caucasian patients who fulfilled the ACR criteria for fibromyalgia had serum vitamin D levels measured and completed the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS). Deficient levels of vitamin D was found in 13.3% of the patients, while 56.0% had insufficient levels and 30.7% had normal levels. Patients with vitamin D deficiency (<25 nmol/l) had higher HADS [median, IQR, 31.0 (23.8-36.8] than patients with insufficient levels [25-50 nmol/l; HADS 22.5 (17.0-26.0)] or than patients with normal levels [50 nmol/l or greater; HADS 23.5 (19.0-27.5); Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA on ranks p<0.05]. There was no relationship with global measures of disease impact or musculoskeletal symptoms. Vitamin D deficiency is common in fibromyalgia and occurs more frequently in patients with anxiety and depression. The nature and direction of the causal relationship remains unclear, but there are definite implications for long-term bone health.

The Effect of Vitamin D supplement and Indoor Vs Outdoor Physical Activity on Depression of Obese Depressed Women

“…It has been reported that depression prevalence is more in obese people compared to those who are not obese up to 25 percent. On the other hand, there is a link between obesity with depression and lower levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (1), depression (2), and obesity (3) has increased rapidly in Iran during the past decade (4). Recently, the positive effect of vitamin D on the prevention and the treatment of mental health problems such as depression has been well documented (4).…”

“…On the other hand, there is a link between obesity with depression and lower levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (1), depression (2), and obesity (3) has increased rapidly in Iran during the past decade (4). Recently, the positive effect of vitamin D on the prevention and the treatment of mental health problems such as depression has been well documented (4). Divergent results have been reported concerning the relationship between Vitamin D and depression in such a manner that some cross sectional studies have found a relationship between low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and depressive symptoms (5,6); whereas other studies of similar design have found no such relationship (7).…”

Vitamin D for Depression with a Seasonal Pattern: an Effective Treatment Strategy

“…91 Vitamin D deficiency is also commonly observed in patients with musculoskeletal disorders like fibromyalgia and is frequently associated with depression and anxiety. 92 Severe vitamin D deficiency leads to osteomalacia and myopathy causing muscle weakness and pain often noted in type 2 diabetic patients with symptomatic relief after vitamin D replacement. 76 Therefore, early identification and correction of underlying cause such as supplementation of vitamin D and other nutritional deficiency provides a simple resolution of symptoms from musculoskeletal disorders including fibromyalgia and myofascial pain.…”

The Relationship between Vitamin D and Quality of Life in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome

“…In another study by Armstrong et al, FMS patients were separated into 2 groups of low level vitamin D (<25 nmol/ml) and high level vitamin D (≥25 nmol/ml). To evaluate the disease activity between the two groups, the FIQ was used and no difference was determined between the low and high vitamin D level cases in terms of FIQ [73]. In a study by Okumuş et al, 40…”