scholarly journals DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 1327-1335
Author(s):  
Saba Irfan ◽  
M. H Qazi

Introduction: Depression is a leading source of disability world-wide withprevalence ranging from 8.8% to 18.3% in people aged 60 years or older. Depression is a not asimple term but has been used to describe a variety of infirmities, ranging from minor to debilitating.It is a multi-symptom disease and can even lead to suicidal attempt. Major depressive disorder(MDD), although one of the most common psychiatric illnesses, has an unknown etiology.Decreased serum levels of vitamin D have been implicated in the pathogenesis of MDD. Casecontrol studies have supported a relationship between low vitamin D as possible predictorsof depression. We designed a study to determine relationship, if any, between low vitaminD deficiency with depression and with severity of disease in our local population. Objective:The aim of this study to see any association of vitamin D deficiency in depressed Pakistanipatients. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Fatima Memorial Hospital, Shadman,Lahore. Period: 2013-2015. Methods: Total of 150 diagnosed patients of 18-75 years of agewas enrolled for this study, after a written consent. Depressed patients were further categorizedinto three groups depending on severity of disease i.e.; mild, moderate and severely depressedpatients. Blood measures included serum vitamin D levels and data was recorded on structureddata collection form. Results: In this study, we investigated the association between vitamin Dstatus and depression in our local Pakistani population. Out of 150 depressed patients, 84.7%were vitamin D deficient. In our study, Out of 44 male depressed patients 9 (20.5%) had milddepression, 8 (18.2%) had moderate depression and 27 (61.4%) had severe depression. Outof 106 depressed female patients 42 (39.6%) had mild depression, 26 (24.5%) had moderatedepression and 38 (35.8%) had severe depression symptoms. A negative correlation of vitaminD with severity of disease was also found in female depressed patients in our study.A significantnegative correlation of vitamin D in all 44 male subjects with severity of disease was observedin our study. Higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was found in both males and females inour study. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of developingdepression, but more prospective observational studies may be needed. Efficacy of vitamin Dsupplementation for preventing onset of depressive disorder is unknown. Efficacy of vitamin Dsupplementation for reducing depressive symptoms is largely unstudied. The study suggestsdietary intervention with vitamin D would boost brain serotonin concentrations and help preventand possibly relieve some of the symptoms associated with depression without side effects.

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaoxun Wang

Vitamin D deficiency is a highly prevalent condition. Low vitamin D levels have long been associated with bone diseases, such as rickets in children and osteomalacia and osteoporosis in adults. However, it has become apparent in recent years that adequate vitamin D levels are also important for optimal functioning of many organs and tissues throughout the body, including the cardiovascular system. Evolving data indicate that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Studies have shown that low vitamin D levels are associated with hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, left ventricular hypertrophy, and chronic vascular inflammation, all of which are risk factors for CVD. This paper reviews the definition and pathophysiology of vitamin D deficiency, clinical evidence linking vitamin D and CVD risk, diabetes and its complications, and metabolic syndrome.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 233372141769784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian H. Heald ◽  
Simon G. Anderson ◽  
Jonathan J. Scargill ◽  
Andrea Short ◽  
David Holland ◽  
...  

Introduction: There is increasing evidence concerning adverse health consequences of low vitamin D levels. We determined whether there is any surrogate for measuring vitamin D in people older than 70 years and the relation between index of multiple deprivation (IMD) and vitamin D levels. Methods: Blood samples from 241 patients were included in this analysis. Concurrent measurements for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and bone profile are reported. Results: The prevalence of total vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency (defined as total vitamin D <50 nmol/L) was 57.5% overall. Even for patients with vitamin D deficiency, a significant proportion had PTH, normal calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase levels. For patients with vitamin D <25 nmol/L, 62.7% had a PTH within reference range, 83.1% had normal serum-adjusted calcium, 80.6% had normal phosphate, and 85.1% had a normal serum alkaline phosphatase. With increasing quintiles of IMD, there was a 22% increased risk of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency from quintiles 1 to 5, in age- and sex-adjusted logistic regression models (odds ratio [OR] = 1.22, 95% confidence interval [1.01, 1.47]; p = .034). Conclusion: No other parameter is currently adequate for screening for vitamin D deficiency in older people. A higher IMD is associated with lower vitamin D levels in older people.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A729-A729
Author(s):  
Betânia Rodrigues dos Santos ◽  
Gislaine Casanova ◽  
Thaís Rasia Silva ◽  
Lucas Bandeira Marchesan ◽  
Karen Oppermann ◽  
...  

Abstract Postmenopausal status has been associated with an unfavorable phenotype tied to hormonal and metabolic changes, which collectively could contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in postmenopausal women and may be linked to this phenotype and especially to an increased risk of developing hypertension. Vitamin D actions are modulated by the vitamin D receptor (VDR), and metabolic abnormalities have been associated with VDR gene variants in different populations. The aims of the present study were to assess the vitamin D levels, prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and genotypes of Fok-I, Bsm-I, Apa-I and Taq-I polymorphisms in the VDR gene and to determine whether vitamin D deficiency and VDR gene variants are associated with blood pressure levels and systemic arterial hypertension by the 2017 ACC/AHA definition in postmenopausal women. We conducted a cross-sectional study of biobanked blood samples from 339 postmenopausal women with no evidence of clinical disease. Blood pressure strata were defined according to the 2017 ACC/AHA cutoffs. Circulating 25(OH)D levels were considered deficient if &lt;20 ng/mL. Genotype analysis was performed by RT-PCR with allelic discrimination assays. Mean serum total 25(OH)D levels were 22.99±8.54 ng/mL, and 40.1% of participants were deficient in vitamin D. Overall, 7.7% had elevated blood pressure, 36.6% had stage 1 and 37.8% had stage 2 hypertension. Mean total (p=0.014) and free 25(OH)D levels (p=0.029) were lower in women with stage 2 hypertension than in those with normal blood pressure. The CC+CT genotypes of Bsm-I and the AA+AG genotypes of Taq-I polymorphisms were more frequent in women with stage 2 hypertension (Bsm-I CC+CT: 85.8% vs. TT: 14.2%, p=0.045; Taq-I AA+AG: 91.3% vs. GG: 8.7%, p=0.021). A higher prevalence ratio of stage 2 hypertension was associated with age (PR 1.058; 95%CI 1.033-1.083; p&lt;0.001), BMI (PR 1.046; 95%CI 1.025-1.068; p&lt;0.001), vitamin D deficiency (PR 1.333; 95%CI 1.016-1.749; p=0.038) and Taq-I polymorphism (PR 1.764; 95%CI 1.030-3.019; p=0.039). Women with vitamin D deficiency and the AA+AG genotype of Taq-I polymorphism were 33% and 76% more likely to have stage 2 hypertension, respectively, but these analyses lost significance when adjusted for age and BMI. In conclusion, the present results suggest that vitamin D deficiency and Taq-I polymorphism are associated with stage 2 hypertension, depending on age and BMI, in postmenopausal women.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Garcia ◽  
Kirsten Krieger ◽  
Candice Loitz ◽  
Lillian M Perez ◽  
Zachary A Richards ◽  
...  

Vitamin D deficiency associates with an increased risk of prostate cancer (PCa) mortality and is hypothesized to contribute to PCa aggressiveness and disparities in African Americans. We reported a relationship between African-ancestry, circulating and intraprostatic vitamin D metabolites and prostatic expression of megalin, an endocytic membrane receptor that internalizes globulin-bound hormones. Here, we show that megalin imports sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)-bound testosterone, potentially regulating intraprostatic hormone levels. Vitamin D levels regulated megalin expression in cell lines, patient-derived prostate epithelial cells, and prostate tissue explants, and mice with prostatic knockout of Lrp2 (megalin) showed reduced prostatic testosterone. Notably, prostatic 5α-dihydrotestosterone levels were higher in African American men and correlated inversely with serum vitamin D status, while megalin protein levels were reduced in PCa tissue. Our findings highlight the negative impact of vitamin D deficiency on PCa and the potential link to PCa disparities observed in African Americans.


2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (8) ◽  
pp. 3415-3424
Author(s):  
Lars Libuda ◽  
Nina Timmesfeld ◽  
Jochen Antel ◽  
Raphael Hirtz ◽  
Jens Bauer ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose While observational studies revealed inverse associations between serum vitamin D levels [25(OH)D] and depression, randomized controlled trials (RCT) in children and adolescents are lacking. This RCT examined the effect of an untreated vitamin D deficiency compared to an immediate vitamin D3 supplementation on depression scores in children and adolescents during standard day and in-patient psychiatric treatment. Methods Patients with vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D ≤ 30 nmol/l] and at least mild depression [Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) > 13] (n = 113) were 1:1 randomized into verum (VG; 2640 IU vitamin D3/d) or placebo group (PG) in a double-blind manner. During the intervention period of 28 days, both groups additionally received treatment as usual. BDI-II scores were assessed as primary outcome, DISYPS-II (Diagnostic System for Mental Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence, Self- and Parent Rating) and serum total 25(OH)D were secondary outcomes. Results At admission, 49.3% of the screened patients (n = 280) had vitamin D deficiency. Although the intervention led to a higher increase of 25(OH)D levels in the VG than in the PG (treatment difference: + 14 ng/ml; 95% CI 4.86–23.77; p = 0.003), the change in BDI-II scores did not differ (+ 1.3; 95% CI − 2.22 to 4.81; p = 0.466). In contrast, DISYPS parental ratings revealed pronounced improvements of depressive symptoms in the VG (− 0.68; 95% CI − 1.23 to − 0.13; p = 0.016). Conclusion Whereas this study failed to show a vitamin D supplementation effect on self-rated depression in adolescent in- or daycare patients, parents reported less depressive symptoms in VG at the end of our study. Future trials should consider clinician-rated depressive symptoms as primary outcome. Trial registration “German Clinical Trials Register” (https://www.drks.de), registration number: DRKS00009758


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1400
Author(s):  
Niv Ben-Shabat ◽  
Abdulla Watad ◽  
Aviv Shabat ◽  
Nicola Luigi Bragazzi ◽  
Doron Comaneshter ◽  
...  

In this study, we aimed to examine the effect of vitamin D deficiency on all-cause mortality in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and in the general population. This is a retrospective-cohort study based on the electronic database of the largest health-maintenance organization in Israel. AS patients who were first diagnosed between 2002–2007 were included. Controls were matched by age, gender and enrollment-time. Follow-up continued until death or end of study follow-up on 1 July 2019. Laboratory measures of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D levels during the entire follow-up period were obtained. A total of 919 AS patients and 4519 controls with a mean time of follow-up of 14.3 years were included. The mean age at the time of enrollment was 52 years, and 22% of them were females. AS was associated with a higher proportion of vitamin D deficiency (odds ratio 1.27 [95% confidence-interval (CI) 1.03–1.58]). In AS patients, insufficient levels of vitamin D (<30 ng/mL) were significantly associated with increased incidence of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 1.59 [95% CI 1.02–2.50]). This association was more prominent with the decrease in vitamin D levels (< 20 ng/mL, HR 1.63 [95% CI 1.03–2.60]; <10 ng/mL, HR 1.79 [95% CI 1.01–3.20]) and among male patients (<30 ng/mL, HR 2.11 [95% CI 1.20–3.72]; <20 ng/mL, HR 2.12 [95% CI 1.19–3.80]; <10 ng/mL, HR 2.23 [95% CI 1.12–4.43]). However, inadequate levels of vitamin D among controls were not associated with an increased all-cause mortality. Our study has shown that vitamin D deficiency is more common in AS patients than controls and is linked to an increased risk for all-cause mortality. These results emphasize the need for randomized-controlled trials to evaluate the benefits of vitamin D supplementation as a secondary prevention of mortality in patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Letícia Veríssimo Dutra ◽  
Fernando Alves Affonso-Kaufman ◽  
Fernanda Ramires Cafeo ◽  
Milene Saori Kassai ◽  
Caio Parente Barbosa ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Premature birth is the main cause of mortality in children under 1 year, and vitamin D deficiency during gestation is associated with prematurity. The effects of vitamin D are mediated by its receptor, which is encoded by the VDR gene. VDR variants—such as single nucleotide variation (SNV)—are associated with increased risk of prematurity, but there are conflicting results. We evaluated serum vitamin D concentrations and the frequency of TaqI/A > G, BsmI/C > T, ApaI/C > A, and FokI/A > T VDR variants in mothers and preterm (PTN) and full-term (FTN) newborns. Methods We conducted a case-control study comprising 40 pairs of mothers and their PTNs (gestational age < 32 weeks and/or weight < 1500 g), and 92 pairs of mothers and FTNs as controls. Genotyping was performed by real-time PCR, and plasma vitamin D concentrations were measured by electrochemiluminescence. Results Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in PTN mothers. Genotypes TaqI/GG and BsmI/TT, and haplotypes AAG (TaqI/A-ApaI/A-FokI/G) and GCA (TaqI/G-ApaI/C-FokI/A) were significantly more frequent in PTN mothers, and genotypes TaqI/AG, ApaI/AA, and FokI/AG resulted in significantly lower vitamin D levels. Genotypes BsmI/TT and ApaI/AA were associated with vitamin D deficiency and 2.36 and 7.99 times greater likelihood of PTB, respectively. Vitamin D levels were also lower in PTNs, although it was not statistically significant. Genotypes BsmI/TT, ApaI/AA, and FokI/GG, and haplotype GAG (TaqI/G-ApaI/A-FokI/G) were significantly more frequent in PTNs. Those with FokI/GG genotypes had significantly lower vitamin D levels. Conclusions VDR variants contribute to variations in vitamin D concentrations and the increased risk of prematurity.


Author(s):  
Jyoti Prabha ◽  
Abhijeet Kumar

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is widely prevalent in all parts of the world. Pregnant women and neonates are highly vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency. Pregnant women receive very less amount of sunlight especially in parts of Southeast Asia due to traditional norms and customs. A strong positive correlation was found between low maternal vitamin D levels with gestational hypertension/preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm labour, low birth weight, intra uterine growth restriction, neonatal intensive care unit admission and Apgar score. Therefore, the present study was designed to know the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant females and to evaluate adverse effects associated with it.Methods: Total 250 nulliparous pregnant females attending Tirath Ram Shah Hospital for delivery and carrying a viable (>/28 weeks) singleton pregnancy were selected. Women with serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level <10 ng/ml, 10-20 ng/ml and <20 ng/ml, were diagnosed as vitamin D deficient, insufficient and sufficient groups respectively and the adverse outcomes was correlated.Results: In this study, out of 250 cases, 159 cases (63.6%) had vitamin D deficiency, 43 cases (17.2%) had insufficiency, and 48 cases (19.2%) had sufficient vitamin D levels (vitamin D ≥20 ng/ml). And, Vitamin D deficiency was associated with preeclampsia, preterm labour and increased risk of caesarean section.Conclusions: This study indicates that vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in pregnant females thus implicating the need of a uniform strategy of vitamin D supplementation to pregnant females.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Di Gessa ◽  
Jane P. Biddulph ◽  
Paola Zaninotto ◽  
Cesar de Oliveira

AbstractInadequate vitamin D levels have been associated with increased risk of depression. However, most of these studies are cross-sectional and failed to investigate the effect of changes in vitamin D levels. This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal association of changes in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with depressive symptoms in 3365 participants of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a large nationally-representative study of older adults. Based on their vitamin D levels at baseline and follow-up (sufficient ≥ 50 nmol/L; insufficient < 50 nmol/L), participants were classified as follows: with sufficient levels at both waves; with sufficient levels at baseline but not at follow-up; with insufficient levels at baseline but ≥ 50 nmol/L at follow-up; and with levels < 50 nmol/L at each time point. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 8-point CES-D scale. Data were analysed using logistic regression models. Compared with those with sufficient levels of vitamin D at both waves, only those with insufficient levels throughout were more likely to report elevated depressive symptoms (OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.00–1.93). Becoming or no longer being vitamin D deficient was, in the short term, not associated with elevated depressive symptoms. Further evidence is required on whether vitamin D supplementation might contribute to the prevention or treatment of depression as well as on the duration of time for changes in vitamin D levels to lead to detectable changes in depressive symptoms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 117863882110187
Author(s):  
Hedyeh Saneifard ◽  
Marjan Shakiba ◽  
Ali Sheikhy ◽  
Leila Baniadam ◽  
Fatemeh Abdollah Gorji ◽  
...  

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is common among children and adolescents and can be affected by several factors such as puberty and obesity. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate vitamin D status in children and adolescents and to analyse the influence of puberty and obesity on its level. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried-out, in which clinical and biochemical data were gathered from 384 healthy children and adolescents between May 2019 to May 2020. Results: 220 females and 164 males were enrolled (aged 7-16 years; mean ± SD: 11 ± 2.5). Vitamin D deficiency was found in 49% of the total cases and was significantly more prevalent in females than males (33.1% in female; 15.9% in male, P < .001). Mean vitamin D level was lower in obese children compared with non-obese ( P < .001). Non-obese group had significantly higher levels of vitamin D in Tanner stage IV of puberty than obese individuals (20.1 ± 17.0 vs 5.4 ± 2.0) ( P = .03). Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in females than males only in Tanner stage II (12.3 ± 9.0 vs 19.6 ± 16.6) ( P = .005). The lowest level of Vitamin D was in Tanner stage Ⅳ-Ⅴ in boys and in Tanner stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ in girls ( P < .001). Conclusion: Puberty is an additional risk factor for vitamin D deficiency especially in girls and obese children. This increased risk, together with the fact that most important time for building a proper skeleton is during childhood and adolescent, makes it essential to monitor vitamin D in these age groups.


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