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Key Takeaways
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-Low levels of vitamin D have long been connected to depression and anxiety, but those findings are still up for debate.
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-A large-scale trial showed that vitamin D supplementation showed no significant benefit over a placebo when it comes to preventing depression in those age 50 and older.
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-Experts note that vitamin D still has many benefits, even if it’s not a depression-buster for older people.
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Vitamin D is often associated with a lower prevalence of depression, but the results of a recent study undermine this correlation. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in August 2020, found that vitamin D supplementation did not result in statistically important differences in the incidence and recurrence of depression compared to the use of a placebo.
“There was no significant benefit from the supplement for depression or mood improvement,” says the study’s lead author, Olivia Okereke, MD of the psychiatry department at Massachusetts General Hospital. However, she adds that for those over 50, these findings don’t mean vitamin D is a waste in terms of supplementation—they likely just offer different benefits than depression prevention.”
Benefits of Vitamin D
Keep in mind, this particular study, which looked at just over 18,000 adults who were considered at risk for depression, was about prevention, not treatment. Although addressing depression requires a multi-layered approach, it’s possible that eliminating a vitamin D deficiency could have an effect.
For example, a small clinical trial found that after eight weeks of vitamin D supplementation, participants with depression reported significant improvements in their symptoms.
The research around vitamin D is ongoing, and although this recent study was larger than most, it’s still just one study in an evolving understanding of micronutrients and their impact on the brain.
Article submitted bv Pat France, MSRN Member
