The prevalence of depressive symptoms in Chinese longevous persons and its correlation with vitamin D status
BMC Geriatrics201818:198, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-018-0886-0
Yao Yao†, Shihui Fu†, Hao Zhang, Nan Li, Qiao Zhu, Fu Zhang, Fuxin Luan, Yali Zhao and Yao He †Contributed equally
Tiny subset of table in the PDF
Characteristics | Depression | No Depression | P |
Vitamin D deficiency (<20ng) | 48% | 36% | < 0.001 |
BMI kg/m2, | 17.8 | 18.5 | 0.004 |
Current alcohol drinker | 8.6% | 11.6% | 0.096 |
ADL impairments | 72% | 49% | < 0.001 |
Outdoor activities > 1 h/d, | 53% | 63.0% | 0.001 |
1.5 X more likely to be depressed if < 20 ng of Vitamin D
Pages listed in BOTH the categories Depression and Seniors
- Frailty 2X less likely in depressed seniors having a good level of vitamin D – Nov 2018
- Centenarians with good vitamin D were 1.5 X less likely to depressed – Aug 2018
- Less depression in seniors taking enough Omega-3 – meta-analysis July 2018
- Senior Depression and Vitamin D – review March 2016
- Mood disorders 11X worse for older adults with low vitamin D – 2006
- Many articles on Senior depression - 35 percent with less than 10 ng – Sept 2010
- Elderly men lacking vitamin D tend to be depressed – Sept 2010
- Depressed people had less than 10 ng of vitamin D – July 2010
- Senior women with less than 20 ng vitamin D were 2X more likely to become depressed May 2010
- Table of outcomes for seniors vs vitamin D level
- Depression category listing has
215 items along with related searches - Vitamin D depression RCT canceled: too many were taking Vitamin D supplements, etc. Feb 2018
- People who get little noon-day sun must supplement with Vitamin D – systematic review June 2017
- Parkinson’s disease 2 times less likely if get 2 hours of daily sun – Nov 2016
10 reasons why seniors need more vitamin D has the following
- Senior skin produces 3X less Vitamin D for the same sun intensity
- Seniors have fewer vitamin D receptors as they age
(The effect of low Vitamin D receptor genes does not show up on vitamin D test results) - Seniors are indoors more than when when they were younger
not as agile, weaker muscles; frail, no longer enjoy hot temperatures
(if outside, stay in the shade), however, seniors might start outdoor activities like gardening, biking, etc. - Seniors wear more clothing outdoors than when younger
fear skin cancer/wrinkles, sometimes avoid bright light after cataract surgery - Seniors often take various drugs which reduce vitamin D (some would not show up on vitamin D test) statins, chemotherapy, anti-depressants, blood pressure, beta-blockers, etc
- Seniors often have one or more diseases which consume vitamin D ( osteoporosis, diabetes, MS, ...)
- Seniors generally put on weight at they age - and a heavier body requires more vitamin D
- Seniors often (40%) have fatty livers – which do not process vitamin D as well
- Seniors not have as much Magnesium needed to use vitamin D
(would not show up on vitamin D test) - Seniors with poorly functioning kidneys do not process vitamin D as well
(would not show up on vitamin D test) 2009 full text online Also PDF 2009 - Vitamin D is not as bioavailable in senior digestive systems (Stomach acid or intestines?)
- Category Seniors and Vitamin D
341 items Additional supplements to reduce depression
- How Omega-3 Fights Depression – LEF July 2016
- Depression treated somewhat by Omega-3 (St. John's Wort better) – RAND org reviews 2015
- Depression greatly reduced by taking 250 mg of Magnesium Chloride daily for 6 weeks– RCT June 2017
 Download the PDF from Vitamin D Life
Background
Hypovitaminosis D and depressive syndromes are common conditions in old adults. However, little is known about the relationship between vitamin D and depression in exceptional aged people. The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D levels and depressive symptoms in Chinese longevous persons.Methods
We used a dataset from a cross-sectional survey of a sample of Chinese longevous people with self-reported age 100 or older, including 175 men and 765 women, was conducted from June 2014 to December 2016 in Hainan Province, China. Data on demographics, lifestyle characteristics and health conditions were collected using a structured questionnaire. Anthropometrics and blood samples were obtained following the standard procedure. Depressive symptoms of the participants were assessed using a shortened version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Serum vitamin D levels were measured using an automated radioimmunoassay.Results
The prevalence of longevous persons with depressive symptoms among the sample was 32.2% (95% confidence interval: 29.7–34.7%). Serum vitamin D levels were lower in participants with depressive symptoms than in those without (20.8 ± 8.7 vs. 23.7 ± 9.7, ng/mL).
Vitamin D deficiency was an independent risk factor for depression after controlling for the potential covariates (Odds ratio = 1.47, 95% Confidence interval = 1.08–2.00; p = 0.014). A negative relationship between serum vitamin D levels and depressive symptoms was also detected, and the relationship remained significant after adjusting for a wide range of other covariates. The multivariate adjusted odds ratio of depressive symptoms for the lowest versus highest quartiles of vitamin D levels was 1.73 (95% confidence interval: 1.10–2.72), and the adjusted odds ratio with a 5 ng/mL decrement of serum 25OHD levels was 1.10 (95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.19).Conclusions
This study showed an inverse association between vitamin D levels and depressive symptoms among Chinese longevous persons. Depressive symptoms should be screened in longevous persons who had vitamin D deficiency. Further studies on vitamin D supplement and prevention along with treatment of depression are needed among very old population.Centenarians with good vitamin D were 1.5 X less likely to depressed – Aug 20181579 visitors, last modified 20 Oct, 2018, This page is in the following categories (# of items in each category)