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The effect of vitamin D supplementation on depressive symptoms in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
November 1, 2023
Tuomas Mikola et al. (12 authors)
Meta-AnalysisSystematic ReviewJournal ArticleHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to investigate the efficacy of vitamin D in reducing depressive symptoms among adults in randomized placebo-controlled trials, excluding light therapy as an intervention.

Results Summary

The abstract does not report results specific to light therapy, as it was an exclusionary criterion in the study. The focus was on vitamin D's effects on depressive symptoms.

Population

Adults in general and clinical populations, including those with systemic diseases, but excluding individuals with bipolar disorder.

Effective Dosage

Not specified for light therapy.

Duration

Not specified for light therapy.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (3)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
vitamin D
neutral
depression-linked physiology
-
-
may regulate
#1
vitamin D
neutral
depression
-
-
effect on
#2
vitamin D
decrease
depressive symptoms
adults
-
efficacy in reducing
#3
Abstract

Neurosteroid and immunological actions of vitamin D may regulate depression-linked physiology. Meta-analyses investigating the effect of vitamin D on depression have been inconsistent. This meta-analysis investigated the efficacy of vitamin D in reducing depressive symptoms among adults in randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCT). General and clinical populations, and studies of ill individuals with systemic diseases were included. Light therapy, co-supplementation (except calcium) and bipolar disorder were exclusionary. Databases Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL and The Cochrane Library were searched to identify relevant articles in English published before April 2022. Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (RoB 2) and GRADE were used to appraise studies. Forty-one RCTs (

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdultHumansDepressionDietary SupplementsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicVitamin DVitamins
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Quality85/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations27
Citations/Year13.5
Relative Citation Ratio9.00
NIH Percentile97.4%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score3.15
Normalized Score0.57
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