Vitamin D Supplementation as an Adjunct in Late-Life Depression: An Interventional Study

Objective: Depression is a major cause of disability worldwide, leading to reduced quality of life, impaired functioning and higher healthcare use. The present study aimed to assess the effect of vitamin D supplementation on depressive symptoms in older adults with late-life depression. Design: Hospital-based interventional study. Subjects/Patients: Sixty adults aged 60–75 years with depressive symptoms and low vitamin D levels. Methods: Participants received either 60,000 IU oral vitamin D3 or placebo weekly for 12 weeks. Outcomes included changes in Geriatric Depression Scale-15 scores and biochemical parameters (25-hydroxyvitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, random blood sugar, and lipid profile), measured at baseline and 12 weeks. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square and paired t-tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Vitamin D supplementation significantly improved depressive symptoms and enhanced serum calcium and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, while reducing parathyroid hormone. There were also improvement in random blood sugar and lipid profiles, although phosphorus changes were not significant. Conclusion: These results indicate that addressing vitamin D insufficiency could be a safe method to alleviate depression and improve metabolic health in older adults.