Vitamin D and Mood Disorders Among Women: An Integrative Review

Pamela K. Murphy, CNM, MS, IBCLC; Carol L. Wagner, MD

J Midwifery Womens Health. 2008;53(5):440-446.

Abstract and Introduction

This integrative review evaluates research studies that investigated the association between vitamin D and mood disorders affecting women to determine whether further research comparing these variables is warranted. A literature search using CINAHL, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and PubMed databases was conducted to locate peer-reviewed mood disorder research studies that measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels. Four of six studies reviewed imparted significant results, with all four showing an association between low 25(OH)D levels and higher incidences of four mood disorders: premenstrual syndrome, seasonal affective disorder, non-specified mood disorder, and major depressive disorder. This review indicates a possible biochemical mechanism occurring between vitamin D and mood disorders affecting women, warranting further studies of these variables using rigorous methodologies.

Vitamin D not only is integral to maintaining bone health, but it also plays a role in several other biochemical mechanisms within the human body. Vitamin D receptors are located in bone, skeletal muscle, immune cells, and several body tissues, including the brain, prostate, breast, and colon. The associated cell signaling by vitamin D may account for the mounting evidence that links vitamin D deficiency with an increased risk for a variety of diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, bone disease, cardiovascular disease, and mood disorders.^{[1,2,3,4,5,6,7]} This article reviews the sources and physiology of vitamin D, followed by an overview of the association between vitamin D deficiency and several disease processes, with an emphasis on the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and mood disorders affecting women.

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Cite this: Vitamin D and Mood Disorders Among Women: An Integrative Review - Medscape - Sep 01, 2008.

Abstract and Introduction
Sources of Vitamin D
Vitamin D Status
Physiology of Vitamin D
Overview of Vitamin D and Its Effects on Disease Processes
Integrative Review of the Literature
Discussion
Implications for Practice
Calls for Future Research
Conclusion
References

Research Studies Evaluating the Association of Vitamin D and Mood Disorders
Type of Mood Disorder	Author, Year	Type of Study	Sample	Measurement Instrument	Key Findings	USPSTF Rating
Major depressive disorder	Eskandari et al., 2007	Comparative descriptive	n=131; 21–45 years old; 121 white F, 10 nonspecified race	DSM-IV	25(OH)D significantly lower in women with MDD compared to controls (27±10.1 ng/mL vs. 34±14.4 ng/mL; P<.002)	Fair
Mood disorder	Wilkins et al., 2006	Comparative descriptive	n=80; =60 years old; 50 F, 30 M; 70 white, 10 AA; 40 with mild Alzheimer's, 40 non-demented	Depressive Features Battery; Depressive Symptoms Inventory	Vitamin D deficiency significantly associated with mood disorder (Wald X₂=7.66; df=2; P=.022)	Fair
Major depression	Schneider et al., 2000	Comparative descriptive	n=56; 18–85 years old, healthy; 12 F, 19 M; major depression: 14 F, 11 M*	DSM-III-R	25(OH)D serum levels not correlated to participants with major depression	Fair
SAD	Gloth, Alam, and Hollis, 1999	Randomized clinical trial	n=15; 15–61 years old; 14 F, 1 M; all white; all diagnosed with SAD	Hamilton Depression Score; SIGH-SAD; SAD-8	Increase in 25(OH)D significantly associated with improvement in depression scale scores (r²=0.26; P=.05)	Fair
PMS	Thys-Jacobs et al., 1995	Comparative descriptive	n=46; 28–42 years old; all white F	Self-recorded diary of PMS-related symptoms	PMS group had significantly lower 25(OH)D levels than controls (19.5±7.5 vs. 25.3±8.3 ng/mL; P<.02)	Fair
Seasonal mood changes	Harris and Dawson-Hughes, 1993	Randomized clinical trial	n=250, 43–72 years old, all white F	POMS questionnaire	POMS scores were not correlated with 25(OH)D serum levels	Fair

25(OH)D = 25-hydroxyvitamin D; AA = African American; DSM = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; F = female; M = male; PMS = premenstrual syndrome; POMS = profile of mood states; SAD = seasonal affective disorder; USPSTF = U.S. Preventative Services Task Force.
*Study included because half of participants with major depression were female and therefore the study met the inclusion criteria.

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Vitamin D and Mood Disorders Among Women: An Integrative Review

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