Investigation of vitamin D level and related factors in children and adolescents between 12-18 age diagnosed with major depressive disorder

Although major depressive disorder is common in childhood and adolescence, its etiology has not been clearly elucidated yet. Vitamin D is a vitamin and hormone with neurotrophic, neuroprotective effects. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the levels of vitamin D and related factors alkaline phosphatase (ALP), parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and calcitonin in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder. In addition, findings were compared with healthy controls. Our sample consists of 40 cases with major depressive disorder between the ages of 12-18 who applied to the Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Diseases at Fırat University Faculty of Medicine and 40 healthy control cases. Sociodemographic data form, Beck Depression Inventory, Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were applied to all cases. All cases included in the study were evaluated in terms of serum vitamin D, ALP, PTH, Ca, P and calcitonin levels. In our study, the vitamin D, ALP, and calcitonin levels of the patients in the depressive disorder group were found to be significantly lower than the control group. PTH, Ca and P levels did not differ significantly between groups. Serum vitamin D levels of girls in the depressive disorder group were found to be statistically significantly lower than boys. There was no correlation between vitamin D level and Beck Depression Inventory score in the depressive disorder group. Considering the important functions of vitamin D in the central nervous system, it is thought to be important to examine the relationship between psychiatric disorders. When the literature is reviewed, it is seen that studies evaluating vitamin D levels in children and adolescents with a diagnosis of depressive disorder are quite limited. Conducting large sample and prospective studies may help to overcome the deficiencies in this regard. Key Words: Depressive disorder, vitamin D, child, adolescent