Relationship Between Vitamin D Levels and Depressive Symptoms in Older Residents From a National Survey Population

• DOI: 10.1097/psy.0b013e3181e9bf15
• Publication Date: 2010-07-02T02:14:44Z
• Authors: Robert Stewart; Vasant Hirani
• Keywords: Male; Depressive Disorder, Major; Depression; Health Status; 610; Comorbidity; Overweight; Vitamin D Deficiency; Health Surveys; Body Mass Index; 3. Good health; 618; 03 medical and health sciences; Logistic Models; 0302 clinical medicine; England; Risk Factors; Humans; Female; Obesity; Seasons; Vitamin D; Geriatric Assessment; Aged

To investigate the association between vitamin D deficiency and depressive symptoms in a national community sample of older people. Vitamin D deficiency is common in older people with potential effects on mood.Data were analyzed from 2070 participants aged ≥65 years who had participated in the 2005 Health Survey for England. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale) had been measured. Covariates included age, sex, social class, season of examination, and physical health status.Depressive symptoms were associated with clinical vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D levels <10 ng/mL; present in 9.8%) independent of other covariates but not with broader deficiency states. This association was not modified by season of examination.Vitamin D deficiency is associated with late-life depression in northern latitudes.