Vitamin D supplements have been found to significantly ease the symptoms of depression in women with moderate to severe cases, a new study has found.
The findings, presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston this week, suggest vitamin D deficiency may be a factor in depression and that raising levels of the “sunshine vitamin” may offer a promising new avenue of treatment as an adjunct or alternative to drug therapy.
"Vitamin D may have an as-yet-unproven effect on mood, and its deficiency may exacerbate depression," said Dr. Sonal Pathak, an endocrinologist at Bayhealth Medical Center in Dover, Del. "If this association is confirmed, it may improve how we treat depression."
Pathak’s findings are based on a small study involving three women, who ranged in age from 42 to 66. All had been diagnosed with clinical depression, and were taking antidepressants. All three were also found to have low levels of vitamin D, Pathak said.
Over 12 weeks, the women were given oral vitamin D replacement therapy to raise their levels to normal. At the end of the study period, all three women reported significant improvements, based on a standard questionnaire designed to assess the severity of sadness and other symptoms of depression.
The findings confirm other studies that have suggested vitamin D has an effect on mood and depression, but more research is needed, Pathak said.
"Screening at-risk depressed patients for vitamin D deficiency and treating it appropriately may be an easy and cost-effective adjunct to mainstream therapies for depression," she said.