Low levels of vitamin D may put older people at a higher risk of depression, a study has found.
Researchers also estimated that 13 per cent of all people aged over 65 could be depressed.
The study, carried out by scientists in Amsterdam and published in Science Daily, found that a deficiency in vitamin D causes high blood levels of the parathyroid hormone, which has been linked to depression.
Of the 1,282 older people aged between 65 and 95 studied, 169 had a minor depressive illness and 26 were majorly depressed. Those with depression were found to have 14 per cent lesser vitamin D in their blood levels.
Over half of the women and 38.8 per cent of the men studied had insufficient vitamin D levels.
The authors of the study write: “Decreased vitamin intake may be secondary to depression, but depression may also be the consequence of poor vitamin D status.”
Decreased outdoor activity and different housing or clothing habits were all believed to decrease vitamin D.
However, a healthy dose of sun exposure can relieve minor feelings of depression.
Tags: amsterdam, blood levels, consequence, depressive illness, feelings of depression, insufficient vitamin, parathyroid, parathyroid hormone, risk, science, scientists, sun exposure, vitamin d, vitamin intake
