The Role of Vitamin D Supplementation on Well Being and Symptoms of Depression During the Winter Season in Health Service Staff (D3-vit-SAD)

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether vitamin D3 (70 micrograms) is better than placebo in preventing depression symptoms among employees in health care

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Vitamin D3 is produced in the skin after exposure to ultraviolet B light from the sun. Vitamin D3 is metabolised sequential in the liver into 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D], which is the storage form of vitamin D in the body, and then in the kidney into the steroid hormone, 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D].

At higher latitudes ultraviolet B light is stopped by the atmosphere during winter season. Half of Danes have low levels of [25(OH)D] in the blood and especially in the early spring months the levels of [25(OH)D] are low. In addition, Vitamin D3 is absorbed through the gut from vitamin D-rich food sources. But several studies show that it is not possible through a recommended diet, which consists of 300 g of fish per week to consume adequate amounts of vitamin D3.

New research suggests link between vitamin D3 and brain function.In the Central Nervous System (CNS) there are specific nuclear receptors for 1,25(OH)2D (VDR) and the enzymes necessary for the hydroxylation of 25(OH)D to 1,25(OH)2D are also present in CNS.

In clinical studies, low serum levels of 25(OH)D, have been associated with reduced cognitive function, anxiety and depression.

The objective of this randomized clinical trial is to investigate whether indoor employees, with tendency to depressive symptoms in the winter season, should be offered vitamin D3 supplements during the Winter season, or it has no significance in relation prevent depressive symptoms.

The study is carried out in the winter season in the Region of Southern Denmark for 12 weeks and offered to health service staff, who have a tendency for depressive symptoms in the winter season.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

50

Phase

  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Esbjerg N
      • Esbjerg, Esbjerg N, Denmark, 6715
        • Mental Health Services Esbjerg

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Health service staff and employee in the Region of Southern Denmark.
  • Tendency to depressive symptoms in the winter season SPAQ>7.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • clinical diagnosis sarcoidoses
  • tuberculosis
  • bipolar affective disorder
  • schizophrenia
  • hypercalcemia
  • hyperphosphatemia
  • pregnancy
  • hyperparathyroidism
  • reduced kidney function

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Vitamin D3
one tablet of vitamin D3 (70µg) per day for 12 weeks.
70µg Vitamin D3, daily, 12 weeks
Other Names:
  • Active
Placebo Comparator: placebo
one tablet of sugar pill per day for 12 weeks.
Placebo, daily, 12 weeks

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Hamilton-29
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Change from baseline in Hamilton-29 at week 12
12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
WHO-5
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Change from baseline in WHO-5 at week 12
12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

October 1, 2011

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2012

Study Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 26, 2011

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 27, 2011

First Posted (Estimate)

October 28, 2011

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

March 29, 2012

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 28, 2012

Last Verified

March 1, 2012

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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