Vitamin D Intake in Relationship to Mood and to Vitamin D- Related Knowledge in Undergraduate Students

Abstract

High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency is reported in the young adult population and individuals residing in northern latitudes due to negligible vitamin D synthesis from ultraviolet light exposure in winter months, therefore, obtaining adequate vitamin D is increasingly important. However, evidence suggests that university students are not consuming the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin D. In recent years, vitamin D insufficiency has been found to have a correlational link and therapeutic effect on depressive symptoms. This research explored the relationship between vitamin D intake and mood, and vitamin D intake and vitamin D-related knowledge. A survey was used to collect demographics, food frequency questionnaire (targeting vitamin D), supplement history, ultraviolet-B exposure, vitamin D-related knowledge questions, and a clinical depression scale score. The results show that only 1.3% of students were consuming the RDA for vitamin D. Vitamin D-related knowledge was found to have a small, yet significant, inverse relationship on vitamin D intake. Additionally, 21.9% of participants reported moderate to severe level depression. The current study did not find a relationship between total vitamin D intake and depression in the winter months, however, participant intakes were skewed and therefore the researcher recommends further investigation into this possible relationship.