Table 3.

Subgroup analysis of the correlation between vitamin D and the incidence/prognosis of depression.

Subgroup		No. of studies	Participants	Changes in depression	SMD	95%CI	p	Heterogeneity(I2) (%)
Occurrence
BDI		9	1,305	↓	−0.36	−0.65–(−0.07)	0.02	83
Overweight (BMI >24 kg/m2)		4	497	-	−0.11	−0.29–0.06	0.21	0
Nomal weight (BMI: 18–24kg/m2)		13	3,721	↓	−0.28	−0.49–(−0.07)	0.01	83
The elderly (≥50 years old)		2	2,432	-	0.04	−0.04–0.12	0.29	0
Female		7	2,922	↓	−0.44	−0.81–(−0.06)	0.02	91
Older female		2	2,432	-	0.04	−0.04–0.12	0.29	0
Intervention duration	≤ 8 weeks	3	251	-	−0.55	−1.61–0.52	0.32	93
	≥8 weeks	16	4,054	↓	−0.15	−0.28–(−0.01)	0.03	60
Development
BDI		7	1,236	-	−1.04	−2.29–0.21	0.10	99
Overweight (BMI >24 kg/m2)		2	178	↓	−0.79	−1.34–(−0.24)	0.005	72
Nomal weight (BMI: 18–24 kg/m2)		4	445	↓	−0.34	−0.68–0.00	0.05	60
Female		3	448	↓	−0.61	−1.16–(−0.06)	0.03	84
Intervention duration	≤ 8 weeks	7	555	↓	−0.69	−1.08–(−0.30)	<0.001	80
	≥8 weeks	10	1,656	↓	−1.00	−1.90–(−0.09)	0.03	98

SMD, standard mean difference; BMI, body mass index; BDI, Beck Depression Inventory.

-, There was no statistical difference in the change of depression scores between the experimental and control groups.

↓, The depression scores of the experimental group decreased compared with control groups.