Vitamin D deficiency and depressive symptoms: meta-analysis of studies .
vitamin D levels, depression, depressive symptoms
vitamin D deficiency
no vitamin D deficiency
risk of depression
Abstract
The aim of this study was the identification and summary of studies examining the relationship between vitamin D levels and the risk of depression and depressive symptoms severity, published between January 2008 and January 2019. A systematic review of literature published within the last 10 years and accessible in PubMed database was conducted by each author separately based on predetermined inclusion criteria. Out of the 823 studies qualified to the initial abstract analysis, 24 were included into the full-text review and 18 into the meta-analysis. Statistically significant odds ratio was obtained for risk of depression in the course of vitamin D deficiency (OR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.4-1.62; p < 0.01). The analysis of available literature seems to indicate that there is an association between risk of depression and vitamin D deficiency. However, current literature does not give the possibility to state explicitly what is the exact mechanism and direction of this dependency.