Molecular Basis Underlying the Therapeutic Potential of Vitamin D for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety
Major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders are common and disabling conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. Despite being different disorders, symptoms of depression and anxiety frequently overlap in individuals, making them difficult to diagnose and treat adequately. Therefore, co...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-06-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/13/7077 |
| _version_ | 1797479770737344512 |
|---|---|
| author | Bruna R. Kouba Anderson Camargo Joana Gil-Mohapel Ana Lúcia S. Rodrigues |
| author_facet | Bruna R. Kouba Anderson Camargo Joana Gil-Mohapel Ana Lúcia S. Rodrigues |
| author_sort | Bruna R. Kouba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders are common and disabling conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. Despite being different disorders, symptoms of depression and anxiety frequently overlap in individuals, making them difficult to diagnose and treat adequately. Therefore, compounds capable of exerting beneficial effects against both disorders are of special interest. Noteworthily, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety, and individuals with these psychiatric conditions have low serum levels of this vitamin. Indeed, in the last few years, vitamin D has gained attention for its many functions that go beyond its effects on calcium–phosphorus metabolism. Particularly, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, pro-neurogenic, and neuromodulatory properties seem to contribute to its antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. Therefore, in this review, we highlight the main mechanisms that may underlie the potential antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of vitamin D. In addition, we discuss preclinical and clinical studies that support the therapeutic potential of this vitamin for the management of these disorders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:50:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-258d73cdab7d4a8c8a28703c52b98691 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:50:37Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-258d73cdab7d4a8c8a28703c52b986912023-11-23T20:07:27ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672022-06-012313707710.3390/ijms23137077Molecular Basis Underlying the Therapeutic Potential of Vitamin D for the Treatment of Depression and AnxietyBruna R. Kouba0Anderson Camargo1Joana Gil-Mohapel2Ana Lúcia S. Rodrigues3Center of Biological Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, BrazilCenter of Biological Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, BrazilIsland Medical Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, CanadaCenter of Biological Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, BrazilMajor depressive disorder and anxiety disorders are common and disabling conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. Despite being different disorders, symptoms of depression and anxiety frequently overlap in individuals, making them difficult to diagnose and treat adequately. Therefore, compounds capable of exerting beneficial effects against both disorders are of special interest. Noteworthily, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety, and individuals with these psychiatric conditions have low serum levels of this vitamin. Indeed, in the last few years, vitamin D has gained attention for its many functions that go beyond its effects on calcium–phosphorus metabolism. Particularly, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, pro-neurogenic, and neuromodulatory properties seem to contribute to its antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. Therefore, in this review, we highlight the main mechanisms that may underlie the potential antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of vitamin D. In addition, we discuss preclinical and clinical studies that support the therapeutic potential of this vitamin for the management of these disorders.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/13/7077anti-inflammatory effectanxietydepressionneuromodulatorpro-neurogenic effectvitamin D |
| spellingShingle | Bruna R. Kouba Anderson Camargo Joana Gil-Mohapel Ana Lúcia S. Rodrigues Molecular Basis Underlying the Therapeutic Potential of Vitamin D for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety International Journal of Molecular Sciences anti-inflammatory effect anxiety depression neuromodulator pro-neurogenic effect vitamin D |
| title | Molecular Basis Underlying the Therapeutic Potential of Vitamin D for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety |
| title_full | Molecular Basis Underlying the Therapeutic Potential of Vitamin D for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety |
| title_fullStr | Molecular Basis Underlying the Therapeutic Potential of Vitamin D for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular Basis Underlying the Therapeutic Potential of Vitamin D for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety |
| title_short | Molecular Basis Underlying the Therapeutic Potential of Vitamin D for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety |
| title_sort | molecular basis underlying the therapeutic potential of vitamin d for the treatment of depression and anxiety |
| topic | anti-inflammatory effect anxiety depression neuromodulator pro-neurogenic effect vitamin D |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/13/7077 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT brunarkouba molecularbasisunderlyingthetherapeuticpotentialofvitamindforthetreatmentofdepressionandanxiety AT andersoncamargo molecularbasisunderlyingthetherapeuticpotentialofvitamindforthetreatmentofdepressionandanxiety AT joanagilmohapel molecularbasisunderlyingthetherapeuticpotentialofvitamindforthetreatmentofdepressionandanxiety AT analuciasrodrigues molecularbasisunderlyingthetherapeuticpotentialofvitamindforthetreatmentofdepressionandanxiety |