Lower serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol is associated with depressive symptoms in older adults in Southern Brazil

• Published in: Nutrition journal 2020-11, Vol.19 (1), p.1-123, Article 123
• Main Authors: Ceolin, Gilciane, Matsuo, Luísa Harumi, Confortin, Susana Cararo, D'Orsi, Eleonora, Rieger, Débora Kurrle, Moreira, Júlia Dubois
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Aging; Brain research; Cell cycle; Cognitive ability; Cohort analysis; cohort study; Color; Complications and side effects; Data collection; Depression (Mood disorder); Depressive symptoms; Elderly; Food and nutrition; Gene expression; Health aspects; Homeostasis; Investigations; Mental depression; Mental health; Metabolism; Neurosciences; Older people; Population; Psychological aspects; Quality control; Questionnaires; Religious groups; Risk factors; Serotonin; Vitamin D; Vitamin D deficiency; Vitamin deficiency
• ISSN: 1475-2891; 1475-2891
• DOI: 10.1186/s12937-020-00638-5

Older adults are one of the most susceptible populations to depression, especially those living in low- and middle-income countries. As well, they are also considering a risk group for vitamin D deficiency. Low serum vitamin D has been associated with an increased risk of brain neuropsychiatry disorders. We aimed to investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentrations and depressive symptoms in adults aged 60 years and over from southern Brazil. A cross-sectional analysis was performed using data collected during 2013-2014 from the populational-based longitudinal EpiFloripa Aging Study (n = 1197). Serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentrations were analyzed and classified according to the Endocrine Society reference values [sufficiency ([greater than or equai to] 30 ng/mL), insufficiency (21-29 ng/mL), and deficiency ([less than or equai to] 20 ng/mL)]. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale (15-item GDS). Logistic regression was performed to assess depressive symptoms in each vitamin D category. The analysis was adjusted for sex, age, skin color, family income, leisure-time physical activities, social or religious groups attendance, morbidities, cognitive impairment, and dependence in activities of daily living. A total of 557 participants with complete data for exposure and outcome were enrolled in the analysis. Most of the sample participants were female (63.1%), age-range 60-69 years (42.2%), white skin color (85.1%), and vitamin D serum level samples were collected in autumn (50.7%). Depressive symptoms were present in 15.8% of the participants, and the prevalence was higher in individuals classified as deficient in vitamin D (23.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 15.6;32.9) and insufficiency (17.2, 95%CI = 11.0;25.9). The crude analysis showed that vitamin D deficient participants had 3.08 (CI = 1.53;6.20) times higher odds to present depressive symptoms compared to vitamin D sufficiency. After adjusting, the association was maintained [OR 2.27 (95%CI = 1.05;4.94). Serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol deficiency was positively associated with depressive symptoms in older adults from southern Brazil.