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. 2023 Jun 21:10:1169436.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1169436. eCollection 2023.

Vitamin D supplementation for depression in older adults: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Yoonjung Park  1   2 , Young-Mi Ah  3 , Yun Mi Yu  1   2
Affiliations

Vitamin D supplementation for depression in older adults: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Yoonjung Park et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

Background: In older adults, depression is associated with several other clinical problems such as cognitive impairment and low quality of life. Several studies have evaluated the relationship between vitamin D and depression in older adults; however, the results have been controversial thus far.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on depressive symptom improvement among individuals aged ≥60 years with or without a diagnosis of depression or depressive symptoms based on a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: RCTs were identified to analyze the relationship between vitamin D supplementation and depressive symptoms. MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Embase, and PsycINFO were systematically searched for relevant articles published from inception to November 2022. RCTs that evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation in participants aged ≥60 years compared to placebo were included. A random effects model was used in this meta-analysis because of the differences between the included RCTs. The quality of the RCTs was assessed using Risk of Bias 2.

Results: Seven trials were included in the analyses. The primary outcome of pre-post score changes included five trials with a total of 752 participants. The secondary outcome of post-intervention score included all seven trials with a total of 4,385 participants. No significant improvement in depressive symptoms in either pre-post score changes [standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.49; 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.07-0.09; p = 0.10] or post-intervention score (SMD = -0.10; 95% CI -0.28-0.07; p = 0.25) was found.

Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation in older adults was not associated with an improvement in depressive symptoms. More studies in older adults are needed to evaluate the association between vitamin D supplementation and depression.

Keywords: depression; depressive symptoms; geriatrics; older adults; vitamin D; vitamin D supplementation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of the study selection process.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot of the improvement of depressive symptoms. (A) pre-post score changes and (B) post-intervention scores.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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