The relationship between vitamin D status and depression in a tactical athlete population. Issue 1 (10th September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schaad, Kelly A.; Bukhari, Asma S.; Brooks, Daniel I.; Kocher, Justin D.; Barringer, Nicholas D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. Volume 16:Issue 1(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-09-10
• Subjects: Vitamin D -- Depression -- Service members -- Latitude -- Vitamin D deficiency; Athletes -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; 613.2024796
• DOI: 10.1186/s12970-019-0308-5
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1550-2783

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Stressors inherent to the military, such as combat exposure, separation from family, and strenuous training, collectively contribute to compromised psychological resilience and greatly impact military performance. Methods: This retrospective review of records was conducted to determine whether vitamin D status was associated with diagnoses of depression and if diagnoses differed by geographic location. Results: Depression (defined using diagnostic codes) was more prevalent in individuals who were diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency (20.4%) than in individuals who were not (4.2%). After adjustment, vitamin D deficient diagnoses remained significantly associated with depression diagnoses (OR = 1.22; 95% CI, 1.11–1.33, p < 0.001). Furthermore, vitamin D deficient diagnoses were strongly associated with geographic latitude ( r 2 = 0.92, p = 0.002). Conclusion: These results suggest that service members stationed at installations located at northerly latitudes may be at increased risk for vitamin D deficiency. Furthermore, vitamin D deficient service members may be at higher risk for diagnosis of depression. As a number of military service members avoid reporting symptoms or seeking treatment, vitamin D status may be a useful screening tool to identify service members at risk for depression.