Vitamin D Supplementation Improves Mood in Women with Type 2 Diabetes

Objective. the aim of this study was to determine the effect of vitamin d supplementation on improving mood (depression and anxiety) and health status (mental and physical) in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (t2dm). methods. fifty women with t2dm and significant depressive symptomology were enrolled into the sunshine study, where weekly vitamin d supplementation (ergocalciferol,50,000 iu) was given to all participants for six months. the main outcomes included (1) depression (center for epidemiologic studies depression,ces-d,and patient health questionnaire,phq-9),(2) anxiety (state-trait anxiety),and (3) health status (short form,sf-12). results. forty-six women (92%) completed all visits. there was a significant decrease in depression (ces-d and phq-9,p<0.001) and anxiety (state and trait,p<0.001). an improvement in mental health status (sf-12,p<0.001) was also found. after controlling for covariates (race,season of enrollment,baseline vitamin d,baseline depression (phq-9),and body mass index),the decline in depression remained significant (ces-d,p<0.001). there was a trend for a better response to supplementation for women who were not taking medications for mood (antidepressants or anxiolytics) (p=0.07). conclusions. randomized trials to confirm that vitamin d supplementation can improve mood and health status in t2dm women are needed. © 2017 sue penckofer et al.