Vitamin DDoes vitamin D help with depression?
Updated 3 Nov 2026
Short answer
The trials disagree. A 2024 review of 31 trials with 24,189 adults found that each 1000 IU a day lowered depression scores a little. The effect was larger in people with depressive symptoms and in trials of 24 weeks or less.[1]
Trials longer than a year found no effect.[1] In VITAL, 2000 IU a day for a median of 5.3 years did not prevent depression in adults aged 50 or older.[2] More on the stress and mood page.[1]
Sources (2)
- The effect of vitamin D supplementation on depression: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ghaemi S, Zeraattalab-Motlagh S, Jayedi A, Shab-Bidar S Psychol Med, 2024. PMID 39552387
- Vitamin D: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. ods.od.nih.gov
More about vitamin d
What is vitamin D?How do you get vitamin D from sunlight and food?What is vitamin D used for?What vitamin D blood level is too low?Is vitamin D safe?Does vitamin D prevent fractures?For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.