Vitamin D is a vitamin that plays an important role in calcium absorption and bone health. It is known that vitamin D deficiency causes a condition called osteomalacia, or weak bones. Researchers, however, have been investigating the connection between vitamin D deficiency and other medical conditions. One area being examined is the possible relationship between depression and vitamin D deficiency. Some studies have found that especially in older adults, low vitamin D may indeed be associated with development of depression symptoms; as such, it is important to realize which symptoms may indicate that a person is depressed.
Depressed Mood
The hallmark of the clinical diagnosis known as depression is the concept of a depressed mood -- that is, feeling down or sad for much of the time. A July 2010 study published in the "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism" examined the relationship between vitamin D levels and depressed mood in more than 900 older patients in Italy. This study used a test called the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in which a score greater than 16 on the 20-item questionnaire was considered to be an indication of depressed mood. This study found that subjects who were deficient in vitamin D were at higher risk of developing this unpleasant, often life-changing symptom. Moreover, the authors found that lower levels of vitamin D were associated with higher risk of developing depressed mood. While such studies do not prove that vitamin D deficiency is a direct cause of depressed mood, they do suggest an association between the two conditions.
Changes in Appetite
Unfortunately, a depressed mood is not the only symptom suggesting depression. According to Medline Plus, another indication of depression, whether associated with a vitamin D deficiency or for another reason, is a marked change in appetite. For some people, this means that they lose their appetite altogether, often resulting in weight loss. Other patients who may be depressed experience the opposite problem: they are constantly hungry and may find themselves gaining weight unintentionally. Dr. Jeffrey Lyness, writing in the medical reference UpToDate, reports that it is more common to have little or no appetite and thus lose weight, than it is to overeat and gain weight. Either change in appetite, however, especially if accompanied by other symptoms, can suggest that a patient is depressed.
Anhedonia
"Anhedonia" is a medical term that denotes a withdrawal from activities that were once considered amusing or pleasurable. A person who is depressed, whether from a deficiency in vitamin D or for other reasons, may find himself avoiding friends or ignoring hobbies, because they simply do not bring pleasure anymore. Dr. Liza Bonin, writing in the medical reference UpToDate, explains that this is often a symptom that a person is severely depressed and that this kind of withdrawal, known as melancholic features of depression, is more common in older patients than in adolescents or young adults. Patients with this significant level of withdrawing from activities and hobbies that were once pleasurable often have other symptoms as well, such as difficulty sleeping or weight loss due to lack of appetite.
References
- "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism;" Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and Depressive Symptoms in Older Women and Men; Y. Milaneschi et. al.; July 2010
- MedlinePlus: Major Depression
- "Psychosomatic Medicine;" Relationship Between Vitamin D Levels and Depressive Symptoms in Older Residents from a National Survey Population; R. Stewart and V. Hirani; September 2010
- "UpToDate;" Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis of Depression; J. Lyoness; June 2010
- "UpToDate;" Depression in Adolescents; Epidemiology, Clinical Manifestations, and Diagnosis; L. Bonin; June 2009
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