Decreased Vitamin D Levels Linked to Depression and Panic Disorders
In an article that appeared in Clinical Nutrition, London researchers reported an association between reduced vitamin D levels and an increased risk of panic disorder and depression.
The study included 5,966 men and women enrolled in the 1958 British birth cohort, which consisted of 18,558 individuals born in March 1958, who were followed to the age of 50 years. Blood samples collected when the participants were 45 years of age were analyzed for 25-hydroxyvitamin D level. Also interviews that were conducted ascertained the presence of common mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, panic, and phobias. Additional questionnaires administered at 50 years of age identified and scored depressive symptoms.
Having a sufficient vitamin D level of at least 30 ng/ml at the age of 45 was associated with a 43% lower adjusted risk of depression and a 67% lower risk of having panic disorder in comparison to subjects whose levels were less than 10 ng/ml.
Life Extension Magazine, May 2013, Page 30