Vitamin D Deficiency Maybe Linked to Depression?

A recent and large study has established a link between vitamin D deficiency and major depressive disorder. According to the researchers, it is the largest investigation up to date that investigated links between two disorders. The study is headed by psychiatrists from UT Southwestern Medical Center in cooperation with the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study.

The study consisted of studying medical records of almost 12,600 participants from 2006 to 2010. And it is found that those with low vitamin D levels are more prone to be diagnosed with depression than those with normal levels of the vitamin.

 

Link suspected for decades

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a number of mental disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimers, but increasing supplementation has not proven to cure these conditions. The study shows that somehow low vitamin D levels can precipitate development of factors that makes the person at risk of having depression, though the study has not explained the exact mechanism.

Researchers postulate that deficiency of the vitamin may affect activity of neurotransmitters and inflammatory markers that can induce development of depressive disorder.

 

Screenings may prove useful

Today, serum vitamin D levels are often tested during physical checkups because they prove useful in diagnosing conditions like autoimmune diseases, heart and vascular diseases, osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes, certain malignancies and many infectious diseases as well. Low vitamin D levels are also good markers for mentally degenerative conditions like multiple sclerosis (in advanced cases) and cognitive decline.

Researchers in the study recommend that serum testing for the vitamin can be used as risk identifiers for depression.

The study is available in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

 

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