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The association of serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D 3 and D 2 with depressive symptoms in childhood – a prospective cohort study
Author(s) -
Tolppanen AnnaMaija,
Sayers Adrian,
Fraser William D.,
Lewis Glyn,
Zammit Stanley,
Lawlor Debbie A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2011.02518.x
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , odds ratio , prospective cohort study , confidence interval , medicine , cohort , relative risk , cohort study , mood , gastroenterology , psychology , psychiatry , economics , macroeconomics
Background: Depression in adolescence is common and early onset predicts worse outcome in adulthood. Studies in adults have suggested a link between higher total 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations and lower risk of depression. Objectives: To investigate (a) the association between serum 25(OH)D 2 and 25(OH)D 3 concentrations and depressive symptoms in children, and (b) whether the associations of 25(OH)D 2 and 25(OH)D 3 are different from, and independent of, each other. Methods: Prospective cohort study with serum 25(OH)D 2 and 25(OH)D 3 concentrations measured at mean age of 9.8 years and depressive symptoms assessed with the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire by a trained interviewer at the mean ages of 10.6 years ( n = 2,759) and 13.8 years ( n = 2,752). Results: Higher concentrations of 25(OH)D 3 assessed at mean age 9.8 years were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms at age 13.8 years [adjusted risk ratio (RR; 95% confidence interval (CI)): 0.90 (0.86–0.95)], but not at age 10.6 years [adjusted RR (95% CI): 0.98 (0.93–1.03)] and with increased odds of decreasing symptoms between age 10.6 and 13.8 years [adjusted RR (95% CI): 1.08 (1.01–1.16)]. Serum 25(OH)D 2 concentrations were not associated with depressive symptoms. Conclusions: This is the first study in children to suggest that the association between 25(OH)D 3 concentrations and depression emerges in childhood. The association is independent of a wide range of potential confounding factors, and appears to be stronger with greater time separation between assessment of 25(OH)D 3 and assessment of depressive symptoms. Confirmation of our findings in large prospective studies and trials would be valuable.