---
_id: '65375'
abstract:
- lang: eng
text: "Abstract\r\n Vitamin D
has been associated with depression, potentially via anti-inflammatory mechanisms,
yet data is scarce, particularly in adolescence. We investigated (1) whether lower
vitamin D status is associated with greater depression severity and (2) whether
this association is statistically moderated by inflammation in patients of a child
and adolescent psychiatry department. At admission fasting morning venous blood
was drawn. Serum vitamin D (25(OH)D) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were analyzed
in all participants [n=465 (64.7%♀; 11.3-18.9 years)]. In a subsample [n=177],
we additionally measured tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma and interleukin
(IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10. Depression severity was assessed by the Beck Depression
Inventory-II (BDI-II) [n=450], the Diagnostic System for Mental Disorders in Childhood
and Adolescence via self-assessment (DISYPS Self) [n=441], and parent-assessment
(DISYPS Proxy) [n=422]. Overall, 43.2% [n=201] were at risk for vitamin D deficiency
(<30nmol/L), and 73.5%-83.2% –depending on assessment tool– showed at least
mild depression. Linear regression revealed an inverse association between 25(OH)D
and BDI-II in both crude and CRP-adjusted full-sample models. Logistic regressions
showed a robust inverse association between 25(OH)D and DISYPS Proxy, but not
for DISYPS Self. Although 25(OH)D was inversely correlated with some pro-inflammatory
markers, neither their inclusion in regression models nor formal mediation analyses
supported inflammation as a mediator of the vitamin D–depression association.
Overall, our results suggest that vitamin D relates modestly to both depression
and inflammation in adolescence. However, based on the measured parameters, we
cannot confirm that anti-inflammatory effects are the link between vitamin D and
depression."
author:
- first_name: Laura
full_name: Schlarbaum, Laura
last_name: Schlarbaum
- first_name: Nicole
full_name: Jankovic, Nicole
last_name: Jankovic
- first_name: Judith
full_name: Bühlmeier, Judith
last_name: Bühlmeier
- first_name: Harald
full_name: Engler, Harald
last_name: Engler
- first_name: Raphael
full_name: Hirtz, Raphael
last_name: Hirtz
- first_name: Corinna
full_name: Grasemann, Corinna
last_name: Grasemann
- first_name: Triinu
full_name: Peters, Triinu
last_name: Peters
- first_name: Anke
full_name: Hinney, Anke
last_name: Hinney
- first_name: Jochen
full_name: Antel, Jochen
last_name: Antel
- first_name: Johannes
full_name: Hebebrand, Johannes
last_name: Hebebrand
- first_name: Manuel
full_name: Föcker, Manuel
last_name: Föcker
- first_name: Lars
full_name: Libuda, Lars
last_name: Libuda
citation:
ama: Schlarbaum L, Jankovic N, Bühlmeier J, et al. Does inflammation explain the
association between vitamin D and depression? Results of a cross-sectional study
in children and adolescents. British Journal of Nutrition. Published online
2026:1-37. doi:10.1017/s0007114526106928
apa: Schlarbaum, L., Jankovic, N., Bühlmeier, J., Engler, H., Hirtz, R., Grasemann,
C., Peters, T., Hinney, A., Antel, J., Hebebrand, J., Föcker, M., & Libuda,
L. (2026). Does inflammation explain the association between vitamin D and depression?
Results of a cross-sectional study in children and adolescents. British Journal
of Nutrition, 1–37. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114526106928
bibtex: '@article{Schlarbaum_Jankovic_Bühlmeier_Engler_Hirtz_Grasemann_Peters_Hinney_Antel_Hebebrand_et
al._2026, title={Does inflammation explain the association between vitamin D and
depression? Results of a cross-sectional study in children and adolescents}, DOI={10.1017/s0007114526106928},
journal={British Journal of Nutrition}, publisher={Cambridge University Press
(CUP)}, author={Schlarbaum, Laura and Jankovic, Nicole and Bühlmeier, Judith and
Engler, Harald and Hirtz, Raphael and Grasemann, Corinna and Peters, Triinu and
Hinney, Anke and Antel, Jochen and Hebebrand, Johannes and et al.}, year={2026},
pages={1–37} }'
chicago: Schlarbaum, Laura, Nicole Jankovic, Judith Bühlmeier, Harald Engler, Raphael
Hirtz, Corinna Grasemann, Triinu Peters, et al. “Does Inflammation Explain the
Association between Vitamin D and Depression? Results of a Cross-Sectional Study
in Children and Adolescents.” British Journal of Nutrition, 2026, 1–37.
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114526106928.
ieee: 'L. Schlarbaum et al., “Does inflammation explain the association between
vitamin D and depression? Results of a cross-sectional study in children and adolescents,”
British Journal of Nutrition, pp. 1–37, 2026, doi: 10.1017/s0007114526106928.'
mla: Schlarbaum, Laura, et al. “Does Inflammation Explain the Association between
Vitamin D and Depression? Results of a Cross-Sectional Study in Children and Adolescents.”
British Journal of Nutrition, Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2026, pp.
1–37, doi:10.1017/s0007114526106928.
short: L. Schlarbaum, N. Jankovic, J. Bühlmeier, H. Engler, R. Hirtz, C. Grasemann,
T. Peters, A. Hinney, J. Antel, J. Hebebrand, M. Föcker, L. Libuda, British Journal
of Nutrition (2026) 1–37.
date_created: 2026-04-08T09:06:17Z
date_updated: 2026-04-08T09:07:07Z
doi: 10.1017/s0007114526106928
language:
- iso: eng
page: 1-37
publication: British Journal of Nutrition
publication_identifier:
issn:
- 0007-1145
- 1475-2662
publication_status: published
publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
status: public
title: Does inflammation explain the association between vitamin D and depression?
Results of a cross-sectional study in children and adolescents
type: journal_article
user_id: '96697'
year: '2026'
...