Serum Vitamin D and Depressive Symptomatology among Boston-Area Puerto Ricans

Abstract

Low vitamin D status, assessed using serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration, has been associated with depression, but research among minority populations, such as Puerto Ricans is limited. We examined the association between serum 25(OH)D and self-reported depressive symptomatology across 3 waves of follow-up in a cohort of Puerto Rican adults residing in Massachusetts. We evaluated the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between serum 25(OH)D and self-reported depressive symptoms in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (BPRHS) cohort. Participants of the BPRHS were evaluated for depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Serum 25(OH)D was measured at baseline (n=1434), year 2 (n=1218), and year 5 (n=914). We categorized serum 25(OH)D concentration as sufficient (≥20ng/mL), insufficient (12 to <20ng/mL), and deficient (<12ng/mL). Multivariable linear regression was used for cross-sectional analyses at baseline, and repeated measures mixed effects modeling was used over 3 waves of follow-up for longitudinal analyses. We conducted sensitivity analyses in vitamin D supplement nonusers and participants with complete data on baseline serum 25(OH)D and CES-D at all 3 visits. Serum 25(OH)D concentration was not associated with CES-D score in cross-sectional analysis [β = -0.85; 95% CI: -2.80, 1.10 for deficient compared with sufficient 25(OH)D; P-trend=0.59] or in longitudinal analyses over 5 y [β = -0.41; 95% CI: -1.95, 1.13 for deficient compared with sufficient 25(OH)D; P-trend=0.93]. Results were similar in sensitivity analyses restricted to vitamin D supplement nonusers (n=1371) and in analyses conducted in participants with complete measures of baseline serum 25(OH)D and CES-D score at all 3 visits (n=887) [β = -0.12; 95% CI: -1.98, 1.74 for deficient compared with sufficient 25(OH)D; P-trend=0.93]. We did not observe a significant association between serum 25(OH)D and depressive symptomatology in the BPRHS cohort.