荷兰研究人员发现，老年人体内的维生素D水平过低可能导致抑郁症或其它精神方面的疾病。

这项研究称，户外活动较少、不同的居住条件或穿衣习惯造成的日晒时间较短，以及维生素摄入量较少，都是体内缺乏维生素D的潜在原因，“它们或许不是导致抑郁症的直接原因，但是抑郁症可能是体内维生素D水平低造成的”。

Lack of vitamin D linked to depression in elderly

Low levels of vitamin D in elderly people may lead to depression and other psychiatric problems, Dutch researchers said.

"Underlying causes of vitamin D deficiency such as less sun exposure as a result of decreased outdoor activity, different housing or clothing habits and decreased vitamin intake may be secondary to depression, but depression may also be the consequence of poor vitamin D levels," the study, released Monday, said.

Researchers from Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, studied some 1,282 senior citizens aged between 65 and 95, and found 26 had major depression, while 169 suffered from minor depression.

Vitamin D levels were 14 percent lower in those elderly suffering from some kind of depression, according to the study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

It found that poor vitamin D status also led to an increase in levels of a hormone secreted by the parathyroid. Overactive parathyroid glands are frequently associated with depression.

The findings could be important in treating depression as both low blood vitamin D levels and high parathyroid hormone levels can be corrected by dietary and calcium supplements or increased exposure to sunlight.

"Moreover, the clinical relevance of the present study is underscored by our finding that 38.8 percent of men and 56.9 percent of women in our community-based cohort had an insufficient vitamin D status," the study added.