The Role of Vitamin D for the Management of Depression in the Western Ukrainian Population with Autoimmune Thyroiditis and Hypothyroidism

The study investigated the impact of vitamin D (cholecalciferol) supplementation on depression levels in 56 patients with hypothyroidism due to autoimmune thyroiditis in Western Ukraine. Depression severity was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale over a 12-week treatment period. Results showed that patients receiving both cholecalciferol and L-thyroxine experienced a 40% reduction in depression levels, compared to a 25% reduction in those receiving only L-thyroxine. Additionally, 21.4% of patients in the cholecalciferol group saw complete remission of depression, while no complete remission was observed in the L-thyroxine-only group. The study concluded that vitamin D supplementation could effectively manage depression in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism.