Annual high-dose vitamin D3 and mental well-being: randomised controlled trial
Sanders KM, Stuart AL, Williamson EJ
Published in British Journal of Psychiatry
Methodology
Double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial (Vital D Study, ISRCTN83409867 / ACTR12605000658617); 500,000 IU oral cholecalciferol or placebo annually for 3-5 years; mental health measured by GHQ, SF-12, PGI-I and the WHO Well-Being Index.
Key Findings
2258 community-dwelling women aged 70 or older received a single annual oral dose of 500,000 IU vitamin D3 or placebo each autumn/winter for 3-5 years. No significant differences between the vitamin D and placebo groups were found on any mental health measure, including the General Health Questionnaire, SF-12, Patient Global Impression-Improvement scale and WHO Well-Being Index. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was 41% higher in the vitamin D group 12 months after dosing, yet questionnaire scores were unchanged, and there was no interaction with baseline antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication use.
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 D3 is a practical intervention to prevent depressive symptoms in older community-dwelling women.
Limitations
A non-clinical population of older women not selected for low mood or vitamin D deficiency; a single very large annual bolus dose may behave differently from daily supplementation, and serum levels were measured in only 102 participants.
Supplements Studied
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 D3 is a practical intervention to prevent depressive symptoms in older community-dwelling women.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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