Low Vit D levels increase depression risk in elderly

Washington: Low blood levels of vitamin D and high blood levels of a hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands in older adults may increase their chances of suffering from depression, according to a new study.

In the study, the researchers measured blood levels of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone and assessed symptoms of depression among 1,282 community residents age 65 to 95.

“Underlying causes of vitamin D deficiency such as less sun exposure as a result of decreased outdoor activity, different housing or clothing habits and decreased vitamin intake may be secondary to depression, but depression may also be the consequence of poor vitamin D status,” the researchers said.

“Moreover, poor vitamin D status causes an increase in serum parathyroid hormone levels,” they added.

Overactive parathyroid glands are frequently accompanied by symptoms of depression that disappear after treatment of the condition.

Of those individuals, 26 had a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, 169 had minor depression and 1,087 were not depressed.

The average blood vitamin D level was 21 nanograms per millilitre and the average parathyroid hormone level was 3.6 picograms per millilitre.

Blood vitamin D levels were 14 per cent lower in individuals with major and minor depression (average, 19 nanograms per milliliter) compared with non-depressed participants (average, 22 nanograms per milliliter).

In addition, parathyroid hormone thyroid levels were an average of 5 percent higher in those with minor depression (average, 3.72 picograms per milliliter) and 33 per cent higher in those with major depressive disorder (average, 4.69 picograms per milliliter) than in those who were not depressed (average, 3.53 picograms per milliliter).

The findings may be important to patients because both low blood vitamin D levels and high parathyroid hormone levels can be treated with higher dietary intake of vitamin D or calcium and increased sunlight exposure.

The study is published in the May issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.