Vitamin D concentration and its association with past, current and future depression in older men: The Health In Men Study

Almeida, Osvaldo P., Hankey, Graeme J., Yeap, Bu B., Golledge, Jonathan, and Flicker, Leon (2015) Vitamin D concentration and its association with past, current and future depression in older men: The Health In Men Study. Maturitas, 81 (1). pp. 36-41.

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Abstract

Background

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with depression in later life, but it remains unclear whether this association is truly causal.

Methods

Observational study examining the retrospective, cross-sectional and prospective associations between vitamin D concentration and depressed mood in a community-derived sample of 3105 older men living in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia. We measured the plasma concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D using standard procedures. Past depression was ascertained by direct questioning and through the use of administrative health data linkage. A geriatric depression scale score equal or greater 7/15 established the presence of current depression. Incident depression was established by a patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥10 or by administrative health data linkage during the 6-year follow up (range 0.1–10.9 years).

Results

Vitamin D concentration <50 nmol/L was associated with greater odds of current (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.13, 2.42) but not past depression (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.83, 1.58). Of the 2740 men with no past or current history of depression, 81 developed clinically significant symptoms during follow up. The adjusted hazard ratio of incident depression for men with plasma vitamin D <50 nmol/L was 1.03 (95% CI = 0.59, 1.79; adjusted for age, living arrangements, season, and prevalent cardiovascular diseases).

Conclusions

Our results do not support a role for vitamin D in the causation of depression, although a small antidepressant effect of vitamin D cannot be entirely discarded. Large randomised placebo-controlled trials are required to dismiss or establish with certainty the causal link between vitamin D deficiency and depression.

Item ID: 38925
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1873-4111
Keywords: depression, vitamin D, epidemiology, risk factors, ageing, mental health
Funders: National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC)
Projects and Grants: NHMRC Grant No. 279408, NHMRC Grant No. 379600, NHMRC Grant No. 403963, NHMRC Grant No. 513823, NHMRC Grant No. 540403, NHMRC Grant No. 540504, NHMRC Grant No. 540405, NHMRC Grant No. 634492, NHMRC Grant No. 1021416, NHMRC Grant No. 1045710, NHMRC Grant No. 1060557
Date Deposited: 17 Jun 2015 03:13
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1102 Cardiovascular Medicine and Haematology > 110201 Cardiology (incl Cardiovascular Diseases) @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9201 Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) > 920103 Cardiovascular System and Diseases @ 100%
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