Vitamin D Improves Depression in Liver Patients
Vitamin D Improves Depression in Liver Patients
This study evaluates the efficacy of vitamin D replacement therapy in reducing depressive
 symptoms in patients with chronic liver disease and vitamin D deficiency. Patients with
 normal vitamin D levels will be monitored as controls, and they will not receive any
 intervention.
Patients with chronic liver diseases regularly suffer from vitamin D deficiency and
 depression. A recent meta-analysis reported an inverse correlation between depression and
 vitamin D levels. Indeed, vitamin D receptor is present and genomic and nongenomic vitamin D
 receptor-mediated signalling has been described in brain.

 This intervention study investigates whether vitamin D therapy ameliorates depressive
 symptoms in chronic liver disease patients.

 The investigators hypothesise that depressive symptoms will improve upon vitamin D
 replacement therapy.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  men and women

 -  over 18 years of age

 -  chronic liver disease

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  severe hepatic encephalopathy (CFF <35 Hz)

 -  Interferon treatment

 -  hypercalcaemia (>2.7 mmol/l) or hypercalciuria (>8.0 mmol/d) with or without
 hyperparathyroidism (>65.0 pg/ml)

 -  history of calcium-containing kidney stones

 -  allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the supplement ingredients: peanuts, soy,
 gelatin

 -  sarcoidosis

 -  stage IV or V Chronic Kidney Disease

 -  Pregnancy