Effect of Long-term Vitamin D3 Supplementation vs Placebo on Risk of Depression or Clinically Relevant Depressive Symptoms and on Change in Mood Scores: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Okereke OI, Reynolds CF, Mischoulon D

Published in JAMA

Methodology

VITAL-DEP ancillary randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial within the VITAL study, testing vitamin D3 2000 IU/day in adults aged 50+ with depression incidence/recurrence and PHQ-8 mood change as primary outcomes.

Key Findings

Over a median 5.3 years, vitamin D3 2000 IU/day did not reduce incident or recurrent depression, clinically relevant depressive symptoms, or change in mood scores compared with placebo in over 18,000 adults.

Conclusions

Treatment with vitamin D3 compared with placebo did not result in a statistically significant difference in the incidence and recurrence of depression or clinically relevant depressive symptoms or for change in mood scores. These findings do not support the use of vitamin D3 in adults to prevent depression.

Limitations

Mostly vitamin D-replete participants at baseline, single dose tested, self-report depression measures, and exclusion of people with current major depression at randomization.