Review, 2009
Does taking vitamin D help with depression?
We still don't know. This review says there isn't enough good evidence yet to say vitamin D levels cause or prevent depression.
What they did
This is a review article, not a new study. The authors looked back at existing lab research and population studies on vitamin D and mood, including one randomized trial.
What they found
Lab studies have taught us more about how vitamin D acts in the brain, but population studies on vitamin D and depression have given mixed results and had weaknesses in how they were designed. One randomized trial found that high doses of vitamin D supplements may help mild depressive symptoms. Many questions remain open, including whether vitamin D affects brain chemicals and stress hormones, whether it helps more serious depression, and whether having enough vitamin D protects against new or returning depression.
What it means for you
The authors conclude it is too early to say vitamin D status is linked to depression, and more long-term studies are needed. This paper is not about PMS or PMDD specifically, and it is a review of other research rather than a study of real patients, so it can't tell you whether vitamin D will help your mood.
1
Randomized trials on vitamin D and mild depression discussed
About the study
- Original title
- Vitamin D and the occurrence of depression: causal association or circumstantial evidence?
- Authors
- Bertone-Johnson ER
- Journal
- Nutrition reviews
- Year
- 2009
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- Vitamin D supplementation, discussed based on one randomized trial mentioned in the review; the review itself did not test anything new.
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00220.x
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