Annual high-dose vitamin D3and mental well-being: randomised controlled trial
Open accessAbstract
Background: Epidemiological evidence supports a relationship between vitamin D and mental well-being, although evidence from large-scale placebo-controlled intervention trials is lacking. Aims: To examine if vitamin D supplementation has a beneficial effect on mood in community-dwelling older women; if a single annual large dose of vitamin D has a role in the prevention of depressive symptoms; and if there is an association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and mental health. Method: A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of women aged 70 or older (the Vital D Study: ISRCTN83409867 and ACTR12605000658617). Participants were randomly assigned to receive 500 000 IU vitamin D 3(cholecalciferol) orally or placebo every autumn/winter for 3–5 consecutive years. The tools utilised at various time points were the General Health Questionnaire, the 12-item Short Form Health Survey, the Patient Global Impression–Improvement scale and the WHO Well-Being Index. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured in a subset of 102 participants. Results: In this non-clinical population, no significant differences between the vitamin D and placebo groups were detected in any of the measured outcomes of mental health. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in the vitamin D group were 41% higher than the placebo group 12 months following their annual dose. Despite this difference, scores from the questionnaires did not differ. Furthermore, there was no interaction between those on antidepressant/anxiety medication at baseline and the treatment groups. Conclusions: The lack of improvement in indices of mental well-being in the vitamin D group does not support the hypothesis that an annual high dose of vitamin D 3 is a practical intervention to prevent depressive symptoms in older community-dwelling women.
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Zinc supplementation is an effective adjunct therapy for major depressive disorders.
“there is wealth of literature suggesting zinc supplementation is an effective adjunct therapy for major depressive disorders (13,29,30).”
From Effects of zinc, vitamin D, and their co-supplementation on mood, serum cortisol, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with obesity and mild to moderate depressive symptoms: A phase II, 12-wk, 2 × 2 factorial design, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (2020) · cites this paper as [30]
The Results and Implications sections address vitamin D supplementation and mood in older women, not zinc as an adjunct therapy for major depressive disorder. Searches for zinc supplementation and adjunct antidepressant treatment found no passage addressing the claim; page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.75)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredStudies targeting inflammatory biomarkers using anti-inflammatory therapies like aspirin or targeting individual nutrients such as vitamin D to prevent depression have not turned out to be effective approaches, at least in adults.
“Studies targeting inflammatory biomarkers using anti-inflammatory therapies like aspirin 148 or targeting individual nutrients such as vitamin D 149 to prevent depression have not turned out to be effective approaches, at least in adults”
From Preventive psychiatry: a blueprint for improving the mental health of young people (2021) · cites this paper as [149]
Four reviews analysed the incidence of depressive disorders as an outcome, and all reported reductions in incidence.
“Four reviews analysed the incidence of depressive disorders as an outcome, and all reported reductions in incidence. 430-432”
From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [432]
Nine out of 10 reviews of depression prevention trials in children and adolescents report significant reductions in depressive symptoms, generally with small effect sizes.
“Nine out of 10 reviews of these trials report significant reductions in depressive symptoms, 428-436 generally with small effect sizes.”
From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [432]
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- Authors
- Sanders, K. M., Stuart, A. L., Williamson, E. J., Jacka, F. N., Dodd, S., Nicholson, G., & Berk, M.
- Affiliations
- Barwon Health (AU)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Sanders, Kerrie M.
- Venue
- British Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Published
- 2011-05
- Volume
- 198
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 357-364
- ISSN
- 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
- 1472-1465
- OpenAlex
- W2170262419
- Cited by
- 145
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 12.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
- Deakin Research Online (Deakin University) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Barwon Health Foundation
- Medical Research Council
- National Health and Medical Research Council (509109, 251682)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Vitamin D Research Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutrition and Health Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
- Keywords
- vitamin D3 supplementation, vitamin D3, high-dose vitamin D, psychological well-being, depressive symptoms, mood, older women, community-dwelling older adults, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, antidepressants, anxiety medication
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anxiety, Cholecalciferol, Data Interpretation, Statistical, Depression, Double-Blind Method, Female, Health Status, Humans, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Osteoporosis, Placebos, Risk Factors, Time Factors, Vitamin D, Vitamin D Deficiency, Vitamins, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Fractures, Bone, Intention to Treat Analysis
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