Table 3.
The descriptions of the studied populations within studies included to a systematic review.
| Ref. | Number of Participants (Female) | Age (Mean with SD/Range) | Inclusion Criteria | Exclusion Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [29] | 40 (34) | 38.1 ± 10.1 years (vitamin D group) 39.6 ± 8.3 years (control group) |
Inclusion: 18–65 years; diagnosis of major depressive disorder without psychotic features based on DSM-IV criteria; score of ≥15 on the 17-item HDRS; not taking any antidepressant or dietary supplements during the previous 2 months; being free from other psychiatric diagnoses, significant medical illnesses, or suicidal thoughts | Exclusion: substance abuse; pregnancy; lactation; occurrence of important adverse effects from medications |
| [30] | 33 (16) for baseline | 45.2 ± 13.3 years (vitamin D group) 43.3 ± 12.9 years (control group) |
Inclusion: 18–70 years; bipolar disorder spectrum diagnosis (bipolar I, II, not otherwise specified); experiencing depressive symptoms rating ≥7 on the MADRS; having psychiatric care provider; if on psychotropic medication—a stable dose for the previous 2 weeks and remained on a current medication regime; serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels ≤ 30 ng/mL or insufficient | Exclusion: insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; liver and kidney diseases; parathyroid disorder; disorders of vitamin D metabolism; abnormal parathyroid hormone, calcium, or phosphorous level; taking Vitamin D replacement therapy; fat digestion disorder; gastrointestinal surgery; active suicidality; acute psychosis; active substance use <3 months |
| [31] | 62 (47) for baseline | 39.6 ± 13.5 years (vitamin D group) 38.7 ± 11.4 years (control group) |
Inclusion: 18–65 years; depressive episode according to the ICD-10—mild to severe depression | Exclusion: bipolar affective disorder; any form of schizophrenia; tuberculosis; sarcoidosis; pregnancy; intake of more than 400 IU vitamin D daily; known allergy/intolerance to the content of the capsules; women in potential of childbearing if they did not utilize effective contraception; serum 25(OH)D < 10 nmol/L or > 100 nmol/L; serum calcium (ionized) > 1.40 mmol/L; estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2; serum phosphate < 1.50 mmol/L (females) or < 1.60 mmol/L (males aged 18–49 years) or < 1.35 mmol/L (males > 49 years), or serum PTH > 9.2 pmol/L |
| [32] | 78 (39) | 68.7 ± 7.0 years (vitamin D group) 67.0 ± 6.3 years (control group) |
Inclusion: >60 years; GDS score > 5—moderate to severe depression; treatment for depression; Iranian citizenship; ability to speak Farsi and answer the questions | Exclusion: history of mental illness other than depression; history of physical disability; uncooperative; severe stress such as hospitalization or death of relatives |
| [33] | 56 (50) | 43.1 ± 9.2 years (vitamin D group) 42.8 ± 8.0 years (control group) |
Inclusion: 18–60 years; BDI-II score of 13–29—mild to moderate depression | Exclusion: other psychiatric disease according to the psychiatrist’s assessments; history of heart infarction, angina pectoris, stroke, kidney stones, high blood pressure, liver disease, hyperparathyroidism; pregnancy and/or lactation; women <50 years not receiving adequate contraception; consuming nutritional supplements containing vitamin D from two months prior to the intervention |
| [34] | 76 (76) | 26.9 ± 1.0 years (vitamin D and calcium group) 29.2 ± 1.4 years (vitamin D group) 28.9 ± 1.6 years (control group) |
Inclusion: women; 18–45 years; EPDS score >12—postpartum depression score; postpartum period from 1 to 6 months; BMI < 35 kg/m2 | Exclusion: serum vitamin D value >75 nmol/L; birth abnormalities; taking contraceptive agents; endocrine disorders; history of severe depression and/or other mental disorders; using antidepressants; serum calcium concentration >2.65 mmol/L; intake of vitamin D and calcium supplements during previous 6 months; history of diabetes, renal failure, kidney stones, gastrointestinal diseases |
| [35] | 62 (missing data) | 41.5 ± 1.8 years | Inclusion: 18–65 years; diagnosis of major depressive disorder based on DSM-V criteria | Exclusion: abnormal PTH level; renal or hepatic impairment |
| [36] | 106 (78) | 46.3 ± 9.7 years (vitamin D group) 43.3 ± 13.7 years (control group) |
Inclusion: 18–60 years; diagnosis of major depressive disorders according to DSM-V; Han Chinese ethnicity; serum 25(OH) D ≤ 75 nmol/L | Exclusion: other concurrent psychiatric disorders defined in DSM-V; substance use disorders; current severe physical conditions; pregnancy; lactation |
BDI-II—Beck Depression Inventory-II; BMI—body mass index; DSM-IV—Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; DSM-V—Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; EPDS—Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; GDS—Geriatric Depression Scale; HDRS—Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; ICD-10—the International Classification of Diseases; MADRS—Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale; PTH—parathyroid hormone.