Vitamin D3 vs D2 and depression
What 2 graded rows on vitamin d3 vs d2 agree on for depression, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Vitamin D3 vs D2 page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Vitamin D3 vs D2 page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
Vitamin D3 vs D2 and depression
2 rows · 20,333 peopleSplit. 1 row found an improvement and 1 found no difference.
- CGrade C× 1
- ∅No effect× 1
- Rows
- 2
- Trials
- 19
- People
- 20,333
- Pooled reviews may count some twice
Where they differ
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade C, is a meta-analysis of 1,980 people (2023) and found an improvement. 1 row is graded No effect, our grade for adequately powered trials that found no effect.
The row that found no difference was larger: 18,353 people, against 1,980 people for the row that found an improvement.
The row that found an improvement is a pooled review of several trials; the row that found no difference is a single study.
The row that found an improvement is newer (2023) than the row that found no difference (2020).
The rows
1 improved · 1 no difference- CGrade CDepressive symptoms in people with depression · Improved
Meta-analysis, 18 studies · n 1,980 · 2023 · 18 placebo-controlled RCTs in depressed patients (median age 39), literature searched through January 2022
Varied: daily oral, intermittent high-dose oral and single high-dose intramuscular regimens · Varied across trials
Vitamin D reduced depressive symptoms more than placebo (SMD −0.49, 95% CI −0.75 to −0.23; I² 81%). Adults responded (SMD −0.70) while children and adolescents did not (SMD 0.10). Bolus doses appeared more effective than daily oral dosing. Dropout did not differ (RR 0.84).
Row on the Vitamin D3 vs D2 page · PubMed 36716601 (opens PubMed)
- ∅No effectDepression or clinically relevant depressive symptoms in adults 50+ (VITAL-DEP) · No difference
RCT · n 18,353 · 2020 · US adults aged 50+ without clinically relevant depressive symptoms at baseline: 16,657 with no depression history and 1,696 with a past history but no treatment in the prior 2 years (VITAL ancillary study; mean age 67.5)
2,000 IU/day · Median 5.3 years
Risk of depression or clinically relevant depressive symptoms did not differ: 609 events on vitamin D3 vs 625 on placebo (12.9 vs 13.3 per 1,000 person-years; HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.87–1.09). No difference in first episodes or recurrences, and no difference in mood-score change (PHQ-8 difference 0.01 points, 95% CI −0.04 to 0.05).
Row on the Vitamin D3 vs D2 page · PubMed 32749491 (opens PubMed)