Low Vitamin D May Increase Depression Risk

Vitamin D is constantly making news. So much so that it is easy to not absorb the importance of the vitamin -- call it "Vitamin D fatigue". Doing so would be a mistake. Vitamin D has been linked to a surprising number of health benefits, including heart and bone health, cognitive function, cancer risk, diabetes risk and even risk of death.

Adding to that ever-growing list of potential health benefits, a new study has found that low vitamin D may be associated with depression in older men and women. Previous, unrelated studies have found that individuals over 65 are among those at the greatest risk for both depression and low vitamin D levels. In an effort to determine if there was a relationship between the two, researchers from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), enrolled 531 women and 423 men aged 65 years and older to participate in the study.

The participants were tracked for 6 years, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to assess their mental health. Likewise, each of the participants underwent routine testing to evaluate their 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, the "storage form" of vitamin D in the body.

The test results showed that women with serum (blood) levels of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D below 50nmol per liter had significantly higher CES-D scores, indicating that they were more depressed than their counterparts who had serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels above 50nmol per liter. A similar relationship was found in men, but it was not as strong. The researchers concluded that these "findings suggest that hypovitaminosis D [low vitamin D] is a risk factor for the development of depressive symptoms in older persons."

While not addressed by this study, it makes one wonder if low vitamin D is somehow associated with seasonal (winter) depression. Or, if it is increased vitamin D levels that makes people feel better after enjoying some time in the sun. For now we can only speculate. Having enough vitamin D is of critical importance to maintaining bone density and health, making it important for seniors to monitor.

Vitamin D comes in several forms. The two forms of vitamin D that come from diet and supplements, cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and ergocalciferol (vitamin D2), are converted within the body into 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the "storage form" of vitamin D, and 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D, the "active form."

Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) is the more bioavailable form of the two dietary forms. This is the same form produced in the skin when exposed to ultraviolet light. Whole Health only sells the vitamin D3 form.

Learn more about Vitamin D3 and its potential benefits here.

1. Milaneschi, Y., M. Shardell, et al. (2010). "Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Depressive Symptoms in Older Women and Men." J Clin Endocrinol Metab.