Vitamin D Supplementation Improves Mood in Women with Type 2 Diabetes

J Diabetes Res. 2017:2017:8232863. doi: 10.1155/2017/8232863. Epub 2017 Sep 7.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on improving mood (depression and anxiety) and health status (mental and physical) in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Fifty women with T2DM and significant depressive symptomology were enrolled into the "Sunshine Study," where weekly vitamin D supplementation (ergocalciferol, 50,000 IU) was given to all participants for six months. The main outcomes included (1) depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression, CES-D, and Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9), (2) anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety), and (3) health status (Short Form, SF-12).

Results: Forty-six women (92%) completed all visits. There was a significant decrease in depression (CES-D and PHQ-9, p < 0.001) and anxiety (state and trait, p < 0.001). An improvement in mental health status (SF-12, p < 0.001) was also found. After controlling for covariates (race, season of enrollment, baseline vitamin D, baseline depression (PHQ-9), and body mass index), the decline in depression remained significant (CES-D, p < 0.001). There was a trend for a better response to supplementation for women who were not taking medications for mood (antidepressants or anxiolytics) (p = 0.07).

Conclusions: Randomized trials to confirm that vitamin D supplementation can improve mood and health status in T2DM women are needed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Affect / drug effects*
  • Anxiety / blood
  • Anxiety / diagnosis
  • Anxiety / drug therapy*
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Depression / blood
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Depression / drug therapy*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / diagnosis
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / psychology
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Ergocalciferols / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mental Health*
  • Middle Aged
  • Proof of Concept Study
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / diagnosis
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / drug therapy*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / psychology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Ergocalciferols
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • hemoglobin A1c protein, human
  • Vitamin D