Is Serum Vitamin D Associated with Depression or Anxiety in Ante- and Postnatal Adult Women? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#adult #female #humans #pregnancy #anxiety

Is Serum Vitamin D Associated with Depression or Anxiety in Ante- and Postnatal Adult Women? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Centeno et al., 2024 | Nutrients | Meta Analysis

Citation

Centeno Luis Otávio Lobo, Fernandez Matheus Dos Santos, ... de Assis Adriano Martimbianco. Is Serum Vitamin D Associated with Depression or Anxiety in Ante- and Postnatal Adult Women? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2024-Oct-26;16(21). doi:10.3390/nu16213648

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To collect evidence from studies that explored the associations between serum vitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations/status and the presence of depressive/anxiety symptoms in the ante- and/or postnatal periods (PROSPERO-CRD42023390895). METHODS: Studies that assessed serum 25[OH]D concentrations in adult women during the ante/postnatal periods and those that used valid instruments to identify the experience/severity of depressive/anxiety symptoms were included. Independent researchers performed the identification/selection of studies, data extraction, risk of bias (RoB) assessment, and bibliometric analysis steps. RESULTS: Of the total of 6769 eligible records, 15 cohort studies [high (n = 3), moderate (n = 7), and low (n = 5) RoB], nine cross-sectional studies [moderate (n = 3) and low (n = 6) RoB], and one case-control study [moderate RoB] were included (n = 25). Depression (n = 24) and anxiety (n = 4) symptoms were assessed. A significant difference in antenatal serum 25[OH]D concentrations between the groups of women with and without depression was identified (mean difference: -4.63 ng/mL; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: -8.88; -0.38). Postnatal serum 25[OH]D concentrations were found to be, on average, -2.36 ng/mL (95% CI: -4.59; -0.14) lower in women with postnatal depression than in those without. Maternal antenatal anxiety was associated with significantly lower concentrations/deficiency of 25[OH]D in only one included study. CONCLUSIONS: Based on very low/low-quality evidence, it was observed that reduced serum 25[OH]D concentrations in the ante- and postnatal period are associated with the presence of ante- and postnatal depressive symptoms, respectively. Low/deficient antenatal serum 25[OH]D concentrations may not be related to the presence of anxiety symptoms before childbirth. Well-designed longitudinal studies are needed to explore the estimated pooled effect of these associations.

Key Findings

Of the total of 6769 eligible records, 15 cohort studies [high (n = 3), moderate (n = 7), and low (n = 5) RoB], nine cross-sectional studies [moderate (n = 3) and low (n = 6) RoB], and one case-control study [moderate RoB] were included (n = 25). Depression (n = 24) and anxiety (n = 4) symptoms were assessed. A significant difference in antenatal serum 25[OH]D concentrations between the groups of women with and without depression was identified (mean difference: -4.63 ng/mL; 95% confidence inter

Outcomes Measured

  • anxiety
  • depression

Population

Field Value
Population adult women
Sample Size 3
Age Range See abstract
Condition anxiety

MeSH Terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Depression, Postpartum
  • Postpartum Period
  • Pregnancy Complications
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin D Deficiency

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: vitamin-d-mood

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09