Prospective associations between vitamin D and depression in middle-aged adults: findings from the UK Biobank cohort. Issue 10 (21st July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ronaldson, Amy; Arias de la Torre, Jorge; Gaughran, Fiona; Bakolis, Ioannis; Hatch, Stephani L.; Hotopf, Matthew; Dregan, Alexandru
• Is Part Of: Psychological medicine. Volume 52:Issue 10(2022)
• Page Start: 1866
• Page End: 1874
• Publication Date: 2022-07-21
• Subjects: Depression -- middle-age -- PHQ-9 -- vitamin D; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Medicine and psychology -- Periodicals; Clinical psychology -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1017/S0033291720003657
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-2917

Abstract

Abstract: Background: A possible role of vitamin D in the pathophysiology of depression is currently speculative, with more rigorous research needed to assess this association in large adult populations. The current study assesses prospective associations between vitamin D status and depression in middle-aged adults enrolled in the UK Biobank. Methods: We assessed prospective associations between vitamin D status at the baseline assessment (2006–2010) and depression measured at the follow-up assessment (2016) in 139 128 adults registered with the UK Biobank. Results: Amongst participants with no depression at baseline ( n = 127 244), logistic regression revealed that those with vitamin D insufficiency [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07–1.22] and those with vitamin D deficiency (aOR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.13–1.36) were more likely to develop new-onset depression at follow-up compared with those with optimal vitamin D levels after adjustment for a wide range of relevant covariates. Similar prospective associations were reported for those with depression at baseline ( n = 11 884) (insufficiency: aOR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.00–1.23; deficiency: aOR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.13–1.50). Conclusions: The prospective associations found between vitamin D status and depression suggest that both vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency might be risk factors for the development of new-onset depression in middle-aged adults. Moreover, vitamin D deficiency (and to a lesser extent insufficiency) might be a predictor of sustained depressive symptoms in those who are already depressed. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is very common, meaning that these findings have significant implications for public health.