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Fat-soluble vitamin synthesised in skin from UVB exposure and activated by the liver and kidneys; regulates calcium and phosphate absorption for bone health and modulates immune and mood pathways via vitamin D receptors.
Major depressive disorder, persistent low mood, and related mood conditions.
Also known as: Cholecalciferol
Every published result for this pair, extracted and audited.
These charts group published studies by what they reported and how they were run — green marks studies that reported a benefit for this pairing. Tiers run from pooled analyses of many trials (strongest) to one-off observational reports.
Direction of reported outcomes for Vitamin D3 in depression.
Study designs behind these findings.
Every measured outcome, one row per finding - numbers exactly as reported.
| Study | Design | n | Duration | Outcome measured | Reported result | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMID 35369008 2021 | Systematic review | - | - | depression improvement and quality of life | reported qualitatively | Benefit |
| PMID 35369008 2021 | Systematic review | - | long-term | depression severity | reported qualitatively | No benefit |
| PMID 35369008 2021 | Systematic review | - | - | depression severity | reported qualitatively | Benefit |
| PMID 32749491 2020 | Randomised trial | 18 353 | median treatment duration was 5.3 years | Change in mood scores (PHQ-8) | reported qualitatively (mean difference for change in mood scores, 0.01 points [95% CI, -0.04 to 0.05 points]) | No benefit |
| PMID 32749491 2020 | Randomised trial | 18 353 | median treatment duration was 5.3 years | Risk of depression or clinically relevant depressive symptoms | reported qualitatively (hazard ratio, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.87 to 1.09]; P = .62) | No benefit |
Hand-selected PubMed studies, linked to the originals.
Ordered by strength of evidence, then result direction.
01Effect of Saffron Versus Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in Treatment of Depression and Anxiety: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled TrialsShafiee A, et al. · Nutrition reviews · 2025PMID 38913392 ↗02Efficacy of Pharmacological Interventions in Milder Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisUrata M, et al. · Neuropsychopharmacology reports · 2025PMID 40014460 ↗03Comparative efficacy and tolerability of nutraceuticals for depressive disorder: A systematic review and network meta-analysisCheng YC, et al. · Psychological medicine · 2025PMID 40314175 ↗04Vitamin D's Impact on Cancer Incidence and Mortality: A Systematic ReviewWimalawansa SJ · Nutrients · 2025PMID 40732958 ↗Be the first to share what you noticed with Vitamin D3 for depression. How we calculate this.