J Nutr Health.  2014 Apr;47(2):113-123. 10.4163/jnh.2014.47.2.113.

Associations of serum 25(OH)D levels with depression and depressed condition in Korean adults: results from KNHANES 2008-2010

• Koo S
• Park K

• KMID: 2210025
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2014.47.2.113

Abstract

PURPOSE
Vitamin D has been known to play an important role in the central nervous system and brain functions in the human body, and cumulative evidence has shown that vitamin D deficiency might be linked with various mental health conditions. Epidemiologic studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency may be associated with higher risk of depression in the US and European populations. However, limited information is available regarding the association between vitamin D status and depression in the Korean population. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between vitamin D levels and prevalence of depression.
METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using nationally representative data from the 2008-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from which serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were available. A total of 18,735 adults who had available demographic, dietary, and lifestyle information were included in our analysis. We defined "depression" with a diagnosis by a physician. "Depressed condition" was defined as having feelings of sadness or depression without diagnosis by a physician.
RESULTS
The prevalence of depression was 1.63% and 5.43% in Korean men and women, respectively; 12.5% of men and 26.1% of women were defined as the group having depressed conditions. In multivariate logistic regression models, no significant associations were observed between vitamin D status and prevalence of depression or depressed conditions in Korean men and women.
CONCLUSION
We found no association between vitamin D insufficiency and depression/depressed conditions in Korean adults. Future large prospective studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm this relationship.

Keyword

depression; depressed condition; 25-hydroxyvitamin D; Korean adults

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Brain
Central Nervous System
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression*
Diagnosis
Epidemiologic Studies
Female
Human Body
Humans
Life Style
Logistic Models
Male
Mental Health
Nutrition Surveys
Prevalence
Vitamin D
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D

Reference

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