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.

Implications for Practice

Despite these limitations, the findings of these studies indicate that serum 25(OH)D levels may be related to mood disorders, indicating that some biologic mechanism may exist between these two variables in women. This could be related to the location of vitamin D receptors within the brain. If vitamin D levels are deficient, the receptors are not filled adequately, which may interfere with proper functioning of hormonal processes that prevent disease within the brain, such as mood disorders.^[3] If research can identify factors such as vitamin D deficiency that lead to mood disorders, then primary prevention may be an option.

Nurse-midwives and women's health providers encounter the issue of depression daily in clinical practice. It is essential not only to identify women at risk for mood disorders, but also to use our knowledge of potential preventative factors to prevent the mood disorders that can affect a woman's daily life and interpersonal relationships. While the studies reviewed conclude that decreased serum 25(OH)D levels may be linked to some mood disorders, change in clinical practice recommendations of vitamin D supplementation to prevent these disorders is not warranted until further methodologically rigorous studies are completed to determine if vitamin D deficiency is a possible risk factor for mood disorders in women. However, it is fair to say that given the mounting evidence about vitamin D deficiency, every effort should be made to ensure that an individual's 25(OH)D level is in the normal range.^[1,21]

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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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