Randomized study of the effects of vitamin D and/or magnesium supplementation on mood, serum levels of BDNF, inflammation, and SIRT1 in obese women with mild to moderate depressive symptoms

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the effects of vitamin D and/or magnesium supplementation on mood, serum levels of BDNF, inflammation, and SIRT1 in obese women with mild to moderate depressive symptoms. Methods In this trial, the 108 obese women with mild to moderate depressive symptoms were randomly allocated into 4 groups: (1) co- supplementation group (n = 27): receiving a 50000 IU vitamin D soft gel weekly + a 250- mg magnesium tablet daily; (2) vitamin D group (n = 27): receiving a 50000 IU vitamin D soft gel weekly + a magnesium placebo daily; (3) magnesium group (n = 27): receiving a vitamin D placebo weekly + a 250- mg magnesium tablet daily; (4) control group (n = 27): receiving a vitamin D placebo weekly + a magnesium placebo daily, for 8 weeks. Before and after the intervention, anthropometric indices, depressive symptoms, serum levels of BDNF, 25(OH)-D, inflammation, and SIRT1, were measured. Results At the end of the study, ANCOVA demonstrated significant differences between the 4 groups in 25(OH)-D, magnesium, TNF-α, IL-6, and BDNF levels. But, we found no significant differences in terms of hs-CRP and SIRT1 levels. A significant reduction in depression score was observed in 3 intervention groups and also in control group. No significant differences in BDI-II score were shown among the 4 groups at the end of the intervention. Conclusion Vitamin D plus magnesium supplementation in obese women with mild to moderate depressive symptoms has beneficial influences on mood, serum levels of BDNF, inflammation, and SIRT1.