Results. Subjects with serum 25(OH)D levels <40 nmol L )1 scored significantly higher (more depressive traits) than those with serum 25(OH)D levels ‡40 nmol L )1 on the BDI total [6.0 (0-23) versus 4.5 (0-28) (median and range)] and the BDI subscale 1-13 [2.0 (0-15) versus 1.0 (0-29.5)] (P < 0.05). In the two groups given vitamin D, but not in the placebo group, there was a significant improvement in BDI scores after 1 year. There was a significant decrease in serum parathyroid hormone in the two vitamin D groups without a concomitant increase in serum calcium.Conclusions. It appears to be a relation between serum levels of 25(OH)D and symptoms of depression. Supplementation with high doses of vitamin D seems to ameliorate these symptoms indicating a possible causal relationship.

Background and Aim. Cross-sectional studies indicate vitamin D to be of importance for glucose tolerance, blood pressure and serum lipids, but whether supplementation with vitamin D would improve cardiovascular risk factors is not known.

Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels are associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and they also appear to predict later development of type 2 diabetes, cancer, and an increased mortality rate. These predictions are all based on a single 25(OH)D measurement, but so far there are no known reports on tracking of serum 25(OH)D levels. In the present Norwegian study, serum 25(OH)D levels were measured 1) in 2,668 subjects in the 1994 and 2008 Tromsø surveys and 2) every third month for 1 year in 94 subjects randomly assigned to placebo in a vitamin D intervention study. There was a marked seasonal variation in 25(OH)D, and, depending on the method of adjusting for season, the correlation coefficient between serum 25(OH)D measurements from 1994 and 2008 ranged from 0.42 to 0.52. In the 1-year intervention study, the correlation between baseline and 12-month values was 0.80. Apart from the effect of season, changes in weight, intake of vitamin D, and physical activity were related to change in serum 25(OH)D levels. Tracking of serum 25(OH)D appears similar to that for blood pressure and serum lipids, and it provides some support for the use of a single 25(OH)D measurement to predict future health outcomes.

Objective: Investigate whether cholecalciferol supplementation leads to weight loss in overweight and obese adults. Design: Randomized double blind clinical trial with 20 000 IU cholecalciferol twice a week, or 20 000 IU once a week plus placebo, or placebo twice a week, for 12 months. All subjects were given 500 mg calcium supplementation. Methods: Four hundred and forty five healthy, overweight, and obese men and women (age 21-70 years, body mass index (BMI) 28.0-47.0 kg/m 2 ). Body weight, fatness, and fat distribution parameters were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and anthropometry, blood samples and 24-h urinary samples were collected. Results: At baseline, there were no significant differences between the groups, but there was a significant inverse relation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and BMI, and a significant positive association between calorie intake and BMI. Three hundred and thirty four subjects completed the study. During the study, there was no significant change in weight, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) or percentage body fat in any of the groups, nor between them. Parathyroid hormone decreased and 25(OH)D increased significantly in both groups receiving cholecalciferol, and serum levels of 25(OH)D stabilized after 3 months. Serum calcium was unchanged in all groups. Urinary calcium excretion increased in all groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups. Weekly dosage of 20 000-40 000 IU cholecalciferol for 12 months was associated with a low risk of adverse effects, at least in overweight and obese adults living at latitude 708 N. Conclusion: Significant weight reduction in overweight and obese subjects is unlikely to occur with cholecalciferol supplementation.European Journal of Endocrinology 159 675-684

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