Abstract
BackgroundOlder adults are one of the most susceptible populations to depression, especially those living in low- and middle-income countries. As well, they are also considering a risk group for vitamin D deficiency. Low serum vitamin D has been associated with an increased risk of brain neuropsychiatry disorders. We aimed to investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentrations and depressive symptoms in adults aged 60 years and over from southern Brazil.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis was performed using data collected during 2013–2014 from the populational-based longitudinal EpiFloripa Aging Study (n = 1197). Serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentrations were analyzed and classified according to the Endocrine Society reference values [sufficiency (≥ 30 ng/mL), insufficiency (21–29 ng/mL), and deficiency (≤ 20 ng/mL)]. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale (15-item GDS). Logistic regression was performed to assess depressive symptoms in each vitamin D category. The analysis was adjusted for sex, age, skin color, family income, leisure-time physical activities, social or religious groups attendance, morbidities, cognitive impairment, and dependence in activities of daily living.ResultsA total of 557 participants with complete data for exposure and outcome were enrolled in the analysis. Most of the sample participants were female (63.1%), age-range 60–69 years (42.2%), white skin color (85.1%), and vitamin D serum level samples were collected in autumn (50.7%). Depressive symptoms were present in 15.8% of the participants, and the prevalence was higher in individuals classified as deficient in vitamin D (23.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 15.6;32.9) and insufficiency (17.2, 95%CI = 11.0;25.9). The crude analysis showed that vitamin D deficient participants had 3.08 (CI = 1.53;6.20) times higher odds to present depressive symptoms compared to vitamin D sufficiency. After adjusting, the association was maintained [OR 2.27 (95%CI = 1.05;4.94).ConclusionsSerum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol deficiency was positively associated with depressive symptoms in older adults from southern Brazil.
Highlights
Despite efforts to reduce the number of people with depressive disorders, their prevalence has increased, in lower-income countries, and depression holds the third position globally in terms of years lived with disability [1, 2]
The present study aimed to investigate the association between low serum vitamin D concentrations and depressive symptoms in older adults living in Southern Brazil, as well as elucidate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in this population and the magnitude of the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency as well
Of the 604 older adults who participated in clinical and laboratory tests in 2014–2015, 577 individuals met the criteria and presented complete data to be included in the analysis (Fig. 1)
Summary
Despite efforts to reduce the number of people with depressive disorders, their prevalence has increased, in lower-income countries, and depression holds the third position globally in terms of years lived with disability [1, 2]. Some promising studies suggest the involvement of nutritional factors, such as vitamin D, in the development of depressive symptoms [10, 11]. Older adults are one of the most susceptible populations to depression, especially those living in low- and middle-income countries. As well, they are considering a risk group for vitamin D deficiency. Low serum vitamin D has been associated with an increased risk of brain neuropsychiatry disorders. We aimed to investigate the association between serum 25hydroxycholecalciferol concentrations and depressive symptoms in adults aged 60 years and over from southern Brazil
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