| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2014 | Volume
: 35
| Issue : 1 | Page : 65-70 |
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A study on 25-OH cholecalciferol levels in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder
Saber Abdel Azim Mohamed1, Dalia Mokhtar Khalil1, Ahmed Mohamed El Melegy2, Yaser Mohamed Raya1
1 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
2 Clinical Pathology Department, Zagazig University Hospitals, Zagazig, Egypt
Correspondence Address:
Saber Abdel Azim Mohamed
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig
Egypt
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1110-1105.127286
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Background
Low vitamin D levels are associated with schizophrenia, depression, and seasonal affective disorder in adults. The relationship between vitamin D and depression in pediatric population is little investigated.
Aim of the study
The aim of the study was to determine the association between depression severity and serum levels of 25-OH cholecalciferol in children and adolescents.
Patients and methods
A total of 82 depressed children and adolescents and 21 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. All participants were subjected to sociodemographic variables, medical and psychiatric examination, psychometric evaluation by the semistructured clinical interview and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, routine laboratory investigations, and serum 25-OH cholecalciferol levels measurement.
Results
There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to age, sex distribution, BMI, family income, and residency. Children of joint paternal family type and with positive psychiatric family history have statistically significant increase in the severity of depression compared with those of other family types and with negative psychiatric family history. Vitamin D levels and severity of depression were inversely correlated; the more severe the depression was, the lower was the level of vitamin D.
Conclusion
25-OH cholecalciferol deficiency is more prevalent in depressed children and adolescent patients than in normal children. Vitamin D supplementation in depressed children might be further investigated in the future. |
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