A Cross-Sectional Study on Vitamin D Deficiency as a Risk Factor for Depression in the Elderly

Abstract

Background: Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders worldwide, significantly impacting individuals' quality of life and contributing to the global burden of disease. It impacts about 350 million individuals globally, with older populations showing greater prevalence rates.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and depression risk in elderly populations in both sunny (Indonesia) and less sunny regions, focusing on the impact of low vitamin D levels on depression risk.

Methodology: The study design is a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study. Data analysis was performed using JASP software. The study was conducted from April to August 2024 in two countries: Indonesia and Russia. A total of 130 elderly individuals participated in the study, with 70 respondents from Indonesia and 60 from Russia, the Shapiro-Wilk test was applied to determine the normality of the data distribution for the sun exposure and depression variables, Also, we conducted a Spearman correlation test to evaluate the relationship between sun exposure time and depression levels

Results: This study found that older adults in Russia and Indonesia had significantly different levels of sun exposure, vitamin D levels, and depression symptoms. The analysis also showed a significant positive correlation between sun exposure and depression levels, emphasizing the importance of adequate sun exposure in mitigating depressive symptoms.

Conclusion: This study emphasizes the vital role that vitamin D plays in older adults' mental health. According to the results, vitamin D deficiency is closely linked to depressive symptoms, especially in areas with little exposure to sunlight,  Participants with inadequate vitamin D levels reported significant depressive symptoms even when they regularly consumed foods high in vitamin D, This suggests that adequate vitamin D is essential not only for physical health but also for maintaining mental well-being in the elderly,  avoiding vitamin D deficiency through dietary changes and supplementation is crucial for decreasing the risk of depression in this susceptible population