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Follow-up Study With Clinical Vitamin D Supplementation Trial on Patients With Depression (DepFuD)

Follow-up Study With Randomized Clinical Vitamin D Supplementation Trial on Patients With Depression (DepFuD)

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02521012
Acronym
DepFuD
Enrollment
319
Registered
2015-08-13
Start date
2015-11-30
Completion date
2025-12-31
Last updated
2025-09-19

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Depression, Depressive Disorder

Keywords

Depression, Depressive symptoms, Vitamin D, Intervention

Brief summary

Depression affects 350 million people worldwide. In the light of the global disease burden statistics, the efficacy of current treatments for depression appears insufficient. Thus, research on novel treatment interventions and predictors for good treatment response are warranted. Earlier prospective follow-up studies and intervention studies suggest that several bio-psychosocial factors, including high serum concentrations of vitamin D, are related to better treatment outcomes. In this follow-up study with randomized clinical vitamin D supplementation trial on patients with depression, the investigators aim to 1. clarify how a six-month intervention with vitamin D supplementation affects treatment response, recovery, and the biological pathways related to depression. This aims to finding potential sub-groups getting benefits from vitamin D supplementation. In addition, the investigators want to 2. investigate and characterize factors related to recovery from depression and working ability in depression patients in the long-term. The investigators are especially interested in the bio-psychosocial factors and the aims include examining both the individual's positive resources. The trial will start with a six-month double-blinded randomized controlled trial with vitamin D supplementation. The aim is to recruit altogether 478 patients with non-psychotic, unipolar depression, aged 18-65 years, who are referred to the recruitment sites for treatment for depression. The participants will be randomized to low (10 µg/day) or high (100 µg/day) vitamin D supplementation group. Clinically necessary antidepressant treatments will continue during the intervention as needed. After six months of intervention, the participants will be followed up at 18 months and at 6 years. Several measurements will be conducted during the intervention and follow-up period. Participants will fill a variety of clinical questionnaires and questionnaires with background information. All participants give blood samples for biomarker analyses at time points 3, 6, 18 months and 6 years. Clinical interviews of mental disorders (e.g. SCID) and anthropometric measurements (e.g. weight, height, blood pressure) will be carried out.

Detailed description

Depression affects 350 million people worldwide. In the light of the global disease burden statistics, the efficacy of current treatments for depression appears insufficient. Thus, research on novel treatment interventions and predictors for good treatment response are warranted. Earlier prospective follow-up studies and intervention studies suggest that several bio-psychosocial factors, including high serum concentrations of vitamin D, are related to better treatment outcomes. In this follow-up study with randomized clinical vitamin D supplementation trial on patients with depression, the investigators aim to 1. clarify how a six-month intervention with vitamin D supplementation affects treatment response, recovery, and the biological pathways related to depression. This aims to finding potential sub-groups getting benefits from vitamin D supplementation. In addition, the investigators want to 2. investigate and characterize factors related to recovery from depression and working ability in depression patients in the long-term. The investigators are especially interested in the bio-psychosocial factors and the aims include examining both the individual's positive resources. The trial will start with a six-month double-blinded randomized controlled trial with vitamin D supplementation. The aim is to recruit altogether 478 patients with non-psychotic, unipolar depression, aged 18-65 years, who are referred to the recruitment sites for treatment for depression. The participants will be randomized to low (10 µg/day) or high (100 µg/day) vitamin D supplementation group. Clinically necessary antidepressant treatments will continue during the intervention as needed. After six months of intervention, the participants will be followed up at 18 months and at 6years. Several measurements will be conducted during the intervention and follow-up period. Participants will fill a variety of clinical questionnaires and questionnaires with background information. All participants give blood samples for biomarker analyses at time points 3, 6, 18 months and 6 years. Clinical interviews of mental disorders (e.g. SCID) and anthropometric measurements (e.g. weight, height, blood pressure) will be carried out.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTVitamin D 10 micrograms

Vitamin D supplementations of 10 micrograms/day will be given to depressed individuals for three months

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTVitamin D 100 micrograms

Vitamin D supplementations of 100 micrograms/day will be given to depressed individuals for three months

Sponsors

Kuopio University Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* patients referred to the recruitment sites for treatment for depression * mild, moderate or severe depression, * mild, moderate or severe episode of recurrent depression

Exclusion criteria

* bipolar or psychotic depression * psychotic disorder * severe substance abuse * disabilities in senses that affect functioning and severely threat completing the trial * diseases that affect vitamin D metabolism (such as sarcoidosis, hypercalcemia, hypofunction of kidney) * pregnancy or lactation * current use of high dose vitamin D supplementation * current use of high dose calcium supplementation

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores0, 3 and 6 monthsWe are interviewing the patients with depression with MADRS, which has been found to be a practical tool for assessing depressive symptoms in clinical trials. We are especially interest to see the change in scores during the intervention.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores0, 3, 6, 18 monthsParticipants fill a 21-item Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire and total scores will be calculated. We are especially interested to see if the total scores changes during the intervention.

Countries

Finland

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026