Vitamin D and depressive symptoms in women during the winter: A pilot study

Abstract 

Background

Research indicates that vitamin D supplementation may decrease depressive symptoms during the winter months.

Method

In this study, nine women with serum vitamin D levels <40 ng/ml were administered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-II. After vitamin D₃ supplementation, six of these women completed the BDI-II and had their serum vitamin D levels reassessed.

Results

Vitamin D supplementation was associated not only with an increase in the serum D levels by an average of 27 ng/ml but also with a decline in the BDI-II scores of an average of 10 points.

Discussion

This study suggests that supplemental vitamin D₃ reduces depressive symptoms.