Vitamin D Supplementation Affects the Beck Depression Inventory, Insulin Resistance, and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial.
BACKGROUND Vitamin D may decrease depression symptoms through its beneficial effects on neurotransmitters, metabolic profiles, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress. OBJECTIVE This study was designed to assess whether vitamin D supplementation can reduce symptoms of depression, metabolic profiles, serum high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs CRP) and biomarkers of oxidative stress in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) METHODS This randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial was performed in 40 patients between 18 and 65 y of age with a diagnosis of MDD based on criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a single capsule of 50 kIU vitamin D/wk (n 20) or placebo (n 20) for 8 wk. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and postintervention to quantify relevant variables. The primary [Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) which examines depressive symptoms] and secondary (glucose homeostasis variables, lipid profiles, hs CRP, and biomarkers of oxidative stress) outcomes were assessed. RESULTS Baseline concentrations of mean serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D were significantly different between the 2 groups (9.2 6.0 and 13.6 7.9 mg/L in the placebo and control groups, respectively, P 0.02) After 8 wk of intervention, changes in serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were significantly greater in the vitamin D group +20.4 mg/L) than in the placebo group 0.9 mg/L, P 0.001) A trend toward a greater decrease in the BDI was observed in the vitamin D group than in the placebo group 8.0 and 3.3, respectively, P 0.06) Changes in serum insulin 3.6 compared with +2.9 mIU/mL, P 0.02) estimated homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance 1.0 compared with +0.6, P 0.01) estimated homeostasis model assessment of b cell function 13.9 compared with +10.3, P 0.03) plasma total antioxidant capacity +63.1 compared with 23.4 mmol/L, P 0.04) and glutathione +170 compared with 213 mmol/L, P 0.04) in the vitamin D group were significantly different from those in the placebo group. CONCLUSION Overall, vitamin D supplementation of patients with MDD for 8 wk had beneficial effects on the BDI, indicators of glucose homeostasis, and oxidative stress. This trial was registered at www.irct.ir as IRCT201412065623N29.
The Journal of nutrition