Depression is a common psychiatric disorder among geriatric patients that decreases the quality of life and increases morbidity and mortality. Vitamin D as a neuro-steroid hormone might play a role in the onset and treatment of depression. In the present study, the association between depressive symptoms and vitamin D concentration in serum was evaluated. 140 patients of a psychogeriatric day-care unit were included. The geriatric depression scale (GDS) and the Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) were assessed at the beginning and end of treatment, GDS scores additionally 6 weeks after discharge from the day-care unit. Vitamin D levels were measured at the beginning of the treatment, routinely. Patients with levels below 30 µg/L were treated with 1000 IU vitamin D per day. There was no association between the severity of depressive symptoms and the concentration of vitamin D at the beginning of the treatment. Patients with higher vitamin D levels showed a stronger decline of depressive symptoms measured by the GDS during their stay in the day-care unit. We provide evidence that vitamin D serum levels might influence antidepressant therapy response in a geriatric population. Prospective studies are necessary to determine which patients may profit from add-on vitamin D therapy.

抑郁症是老年患者常见的精神疾病，会降低生活质量并增加发病率和死亡率。维生素 D 作为一种神经类固醇激素可能在抑郁症的发病和治疗中发挥作用。在本研究中，评估了抑郁症状与血清中维生素 D 浓度之间的关联。包括 140 名老年精神科日间护理病房的患者。在治疗开始和结束时评估老年抑郁量表 (GDS) 和汉密尔顿抑郁评分量表 (HDRS)，在从日托病房出院后 6 周再评估 GDS 评分。在治疗开始时定期测量维生素 D 水平。水平低于 30 µg/L 的患者每天接受 1000 IU 维生素 D 治疗。抑郁症状的严重程度与治疗开始时维生素 D 的浓度之间没有关联。维生素 D 水平较高的患者在入住日托病房期间表现出由 GDS 测量的抑郁症状的更强下降。我们提供的证据表明，维生素 D 血清水平可能会影响老年人群的抗抑郁治疗反应。有必要进行前瞻性研究以确定哪些患者可以从补充维生素 D 治疗中获益。