Efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in depression in adults: a systematic review.

Study answer

What this study found

Vitamin D supplementation did not show a significant overall benefit for depression symptoms. The pooled postintervention effect was small and nonsignificant in the classic meta-analysis (SMD = −0.14, 95% CI −0.41 to 0.13; P = .32), and the dichotomous outcome was also null (OR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.59; P = .79). Subgroup analyses by dose, sex, location, sampling, and population did not identify a clear effect. Adverse events were generally absent or similar to placebo, but overall evidence quality was low.

Study & population

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 6 randomized controlled trials in adults 18 years and older who were at risk of depression, had depressive symptoms, or had a primary diagnosis of depression.

Intervention

Oral vitamin D supplementation was evaluated across 6 randomized trials, mainly as cholecalciferol, with regimens ranging from 1,500 IU/day to 20,000 IU twice weekly, 50,000 IU weekly, or 500,000 IU once yearly; one trial used calcitriol 0.25 g twice daily.

Key limitation

Evidence quality was low because of heterogeneity and risk of bias.

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Original abstract