Assessment of Vitamin D Role in Depression

Abstract
Background: Depression is a devastating disease that adversely affects all aspects of one's existence. There is some evidence that low circulating concentration of serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], the marker for Vitamin D status, is associated with mood disorders, including major depresssive disorder.
Aim of Study: The aim of this work is to investigate the association between serum Vitamin D concentrations and depression and to evaluate the correlation between the con-centrations of Vitamin D and severity of depression.
Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted on 66 patients suffering from depression, and 22 apparently healthy individuals as controls. Complete psychiatric interview; with application of Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) Scale for diagnosis and assessment of the severity of depression was done. Laboratory investigations including kidney function tests, liver function tests,serum total calcium,phosphorus and serum Vitamin D (25-OH Vitamin D3/D2) was done for all subjects.
Results: 21, 23 and 22 patients had mild, moderate and severe depression respectively. There was statistically very high significant decrease in Vitamin D level in patients group compared to control group. In patients group, 40.9% of patients had Vitamin D deficiency (serum 25(OH]D <12ng/mL), 33.3% had Vitamin D insufficiency (serum 25(OH]D ranged from 12 to 20ng/mL), and 25.8% had sufficient level of Vitamin D (serum 25(OH]D >20ng/mL). There was statistically sig-nificant decrease of Vitamin D levels in female patients group compared to male patients group. There was statistically significant negative correlation between BDI-II score and Vitamin D level in patients group.
Conclusion: The finding of this study revealed evidence of an association between low 25(OH)D, a marker of Vitamin D status, and depression, suggesting a direct effect of Vitamin D on development of depression.There was an association between low Vitamin D status and the severity of depres-sion.Vitamin D deficiency was more pronounced in female patients than male patients.