Study of vitamin D deficiency in depression patients-is it the reason for high rates of somatic presentation of depression?

Abstract

Introduction

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is widely distributed in the human brain including areas that are assumed to be involved in the pathophysiology of depression. Vitamin D deficiency may cause physical symptoms like pain.

Objectives

See if somatic presentation of depression has any correlate with vitamin D deficiency.

Aims

To compare prevalence of vitamin D deficiency between depressed and non-depressed subjects and see if somatic presentation of depression has any correlate with vitamin D deficiency.

Methods

Sixty diagnosed MDD patients consenting to participate in the study from a large private hospital selected, provided they were non-smoker, 18–65 years, free from chronic illness and not taking anti-depressant control (60 subjects) comprised of close family members of patients. FSC (functional somatic complaints) was assessed using local language version of Bradford Somatic Inventory (BSI), while severity of depression was assessed using HDRS-17. Based on the total score, FSCs are categorized into 3 grades ((>40 ‘high, 26–40 ‘middle, and 0–25‘low’ range).

Results

Vitamin D status (deficiency: insufficiency: sufficiency) was 70: 30.0: 0.0% in depressed, which significantly worse compared to control subjects (55%: 25: 20%). Patients with higher BSI scores (i.e. more somatisation) showed non-significantly lower vitamin D level. These results were more prominent for female subjects.

Conclusions

Vitamin D deficiency is more common in depression subjects, which might thus need to be looked for and treated. However, no significant link between somatisation and vitamin D deficiency could be established.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.