Associations Between Vitamin D Levels and Depressive Symptoms in Later Life: Evidence From the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA).

Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences

Jane P. Biddulph
Vasant Hirani
Cesar de Oliveira

Published on 22 June 2017

From Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Volume
May 2013

Background:

A possible role of vitamin D in depression has received considerable attention, especially given the significant disability, mortality, and healthcare costs associated to depression and the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency.

Abstract

Background:

A possible role of vitaminD in depression has received considerable attention, especially given the significant disability, mortality, and healthcare costs associated to depression and the high prevalence of vitaminD deficiency.

Methods:

We investigated the cross-sectional associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels and depressivesymptoms (CES-D) in 5,607 older adults from the EnglishLongitudinalStudy of Ageing (ELSA).

Results:

Overall, there was a significant association between low 25OHD levels and elevated depressivesymptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20-2.07 for the lowest quartile; OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.15-1.83 for levels depressive symptoms. For men, however, this association only remained significant for those with 25OHD levels of

Conclusions:

The independent and inverse association found between low 25OHD levels and elevated depressivesymptoms suggests that vitaminD deficiency may be a risk factor for late-life depression, particularly among women. Whether our findings have any clinical meaning or not, additional data are needed from well-designed randomized controlled trials of vitaminD for the prevention and treatment of late-life depression.