Overview

SCIENTIFIC SCORE
Possibly Effective
Based on 33 Researches
7.2
USERS' SCORE
Good
Based on 4 Reviews
8.3
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 5 Tablets
Amount Per Serving
%DV
Vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol)
10 mcg (400 IU)
50%
Calcium (as calcium citrate)
1,000 mg
77%
Magnesium (as magnesium oxide, magnesium citrate)
500 mg
119%
Sodium
20 mg
<1%

Top Medical Research Studies

9
Vitamin D3 improves depressive symptoms
We conducted a double-blind randomized clinical trial to explore the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on depression. Our study involved 56 adults with mild to moderate depression, who were assigned to either a vitamin D group or a placebo group. Over the course of eight weeks, the vitamin D group received a high dose of 50,000 IU cholecalciferol every two weeks, while the control group received a placebo.

After the treatment period, we observed that the participants who received the vitamin D3 experienced a significant reduction in depression severity, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II. Interestingly, this improvement in mood occurred independently of any changes in inflammatory biomarkers like IL-1β, IL-6, and hs-CRP, which we also assessed during the study.

This indicates that while vitamin D supplementation may positively impact depressive symptoms, its effects are not directly linked to the inflammatory markers we evaluated. Our findings suggest that vitamin D3 could be a helpful addition to depression treatment strategies, particularly in individuals with low vitamin D levels.
Read More
9.5
Cholecalciferol eases depression symptoms
We conducted a thorough exploration of how vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, affects depressive symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involved 70 participants who experienced both T2DM and depression. For 12 weeks, one group received a daily dose of 4000 IU of cholecalciferol, while the other group received a placebo.

By assessing depression levels using the Beck Depression Inventory-II before and after the study, we observed notable results. Not only did the cholecalciferol group report a significant reduction in depression scores, but we found a marked increase in C-peptide levels as well, which may be linked to improvements in mood.

However, we did not find significant changes in serotonin and neurotrophin-3 levels between the two groups, leaving us with some unanswered questions about these mechanisms. Overall, our findings suggest that supplementing with cholecalciferol could potentially relieve mild to moderate depressive symptoms for people managing T2DM, especially through enhanced C-peptide levels.
Read More
9
Magnesium intake reduces depression risk
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis exploring how dietary magnesium (Mg) intake connects with depression among adults. By reviewing data from over 63,000 individuals, we found that those with the highest magnesium intake had a 34% lower chance of experiencing depression compared to those with the lowest intake.

Furthermore, our analysis indicated that every increase of 100 mg per day in magnesium intake was linked to a 7% reduced risk of depression. These findings suggest that increasing dietary magnesium could play a valuable role in lowering depression risk.
Read More

Most Useful Reviews

9
Great help
3 people found this helpful
Please take magnesium; it has significantly alleviated my depression.
Read More
9
Helpful for depression
My legs were cramping at night, but magnesium eliminated this discomfort. After childbirth, stress and sleeplessness can lead to nervous system issues close to depression. Magnesium benefits my nervous system significantly. I moved from regular magnesium b6 forte to magnesium citrate and ultimately to a magnesium-calcium duo with D3, recognising their enhanced absorption together.
Read More
7.5
Relieved depression
I purchased vitamin D as it is beneficial for relieving depression.
Read More

Medical Researches

SCIENTIFIC SCORE
Possibly Effective
Based on 33 Researches
7.2
  • All Researches
9.5
Cholecalciferol eases depression symptoms
We conducted a thorough exploration of how vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, affects depressive symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involved 70 participants who experienced both T2DM and depression. For 12 weeks, one group received a daily dose of 4000 IU of cholecalciferol, while the other group received a placebo.

By assessing depression levels using the Beck Depression Inventory-II before and after the study, we observed notable results. Not only did the cholecalciferol group report a significant reduction in depression scores, but we found a marked increase in C-peptide levels as well, which may be linked to improvements in mood.

However, we did not find significant changes in serotonin and neurotrophin-3 levels between the two groups, leaving us with some unanswered questions about these mechanisms. Overall, our findings suggest that supplementing with cholecalciferol could potentially relieve mild to moderate depressive symptoms for people managing T2DM, especially through enhanced C-peptide levels.
Read More
9.5
Magnesium and Vitamin D effective for depression
We explored the effectiveness of magnesium coupled with vitamin D in easing depressive symptoms among individuals with long-COVID. Our study involved 60 participants suffering from mild to moderate depression, hypomagnesemia, and vitamin D deficiency.

Over four months, those who received both magnesium and vitamin D showed significant improvements in their depression scores compared to those who only took vitamin D. Specifically, a notable 73% of the magnesium group achieved significant relief, positioning this combination as a promising treatment for depression linked to long-COVID.

Mild side effects were noted but did not lead to any withdrawals, indicating the safety of this treatment option.
Read More
9
Calcitriol impacts depression positively
We explored how calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D3, impacts depression linked to neuroinflammation. Using a well-structured study with control and experimental groups, we examined the effects of calcitriol on mice exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a substance that induces depressive-like behavior and neuroinflammation.

During our experiments, we found that calcitriol not only reduced the inflammatory response in brain cells but also improved behavioral symptoms associated with depression. In particular, it lowered the levels of inflammation-related molecules while promoting anti-inflammatory ones in the brain's hippocampus, an area important for mood and memory.

We observed that calcitriol helped alleviate some of the negative behavioral effects triggered by LPS. The treatment also appeared to prevent the activation of microglia, the brain's immune cells, by interfering with a specific signaling pathway involved in inflammation.

Overall, our findings suggest that vitamin D3 could offer promising benefits as a treatment for depression by tackling neuroinflammation and protecting neuronal health.
Read More
We looked at how vitamin D3 could help combat depression, especially in the context of chronic stress. The study involved 40 male Wistar rats, divided into different groups to compare the effects of vitamin D3, the antidepressant fluoxetine, and a combination of both.

The rats underwent 21 days of mild but unpredictable stress, simulating conditions often linked to depression. To measure the effects, we conducted several behavioral tests and collected blood samples to assess hormonal changes.

Results showed that vitamin D3 had a positive impact similar to fluoxetine on the rats' depressive behaviors. Specifically, we found that vitamin D3 improved results in key behavioral tests, suggesting it can help protect against stress-induced anxiety and depression.

Notably, the levels of corticosterone, a stress hormone, were lower in rats that received vitamin D3, indicating a protective effect. Overall, this study emphasizes the potential of vitamin D3 in alleviating depressive symptoms resulting from chronic stress.
Read More
9
Vitamin D3 improves depressive symptoms
We conducted a double-blind randomized clinical trial to explore the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on depression. Our study involved 56 adults with mild to moderate depression, who were assigned to either a vitamin D group or a placebo group. Over the course of eight weeks, the vitamin D group received a high dose of 50,000 IU cholecalciferol every two weeks, while the control group received a placebo.

After the treatment period, we observed that the participants who received the vitamin D3 experienced a significant reduction in depression severity, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II. Interestingly, this improvement in mood occurred independently of any changes in inflammatory biomarkers like IL-1β, IL-6, and hs-CRP, which we also assessed during the study.

This indicates that while vitamin D supplementation may positively impact depressive symptoms, its effects are not directly linked to the inflammatory markers we evaluated. Our findings suggest that vitamin D3 could be a helpful addition to depression treatment strategies, particularly in individuals with low vitamin D levels.
Read More

User Reviews

USERS' SCORE
Good
Based on 4 Reviews
8.3
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
9
Great help
3 people found this helpful
Please take magnesium; it has significantly alleviated my depression.
Read More
9
Helpful for depression
My legs were cramping at night, but magnesium eliminated this discomfort. After childbirth, stress and sleeplessness can lead to nervous system issues close to depression. Magnesium benefits my nervous system significantly. I moved from regular magnesium b6 forte to magnesium citrate and ultimately to a magnesium-calcium duo with D3, recognising their enhanced absorption together.
Read More
7.5
Relieved depression
I purchased vitamin D as it is beneficial for relieving depression.
Read More
6
Supports sleep and depression
1 people found this helpful
I purchased it since magnesium can assist with mild depression and improve sleep. Although the pill is quite large, I've managed to take it without any issues. I take numerous pills, but I anticipate it will require a considerable duration to see full effects.
Read More

Frequently Asked Questions

9.5
Cholecalciferol eases depression symptoms
We conducted a thorough exploration of how vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, affects depressive symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involved 70 participants who experienced both T2DM and depression. For 12 weeks, one group received a daily dose of 4000 IU of cholecalciferol, while the other group received a placebo.

By assessing depression levels using the Beck Depression Inventory-II before and after the study, we observed notable results. Not only did the cholecalciferol group report a significant reduction in depression scores, but we found a marked increase in C-peptide levels as well, which may be linked to improvements in mood.

However, we did not find significant changes in serotonin and neurotrophin-3 levels between the two groups, leaving us with some unanswered questions about these mechanisms. Overall, our findings suggest that supplementing with cholecalciferol could potentially relieve mild to moderate depressive symptoms for people managing T2DM, especially through enhanced C-peptide levels.
7
Vitamin D3 may alleviate depression
We explored the impact of vitamin D3 supplementation on depression through a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Our analysis included data from 31 studies involving nearly 24,200 participants.

The findings revealed that taking an additional 1000 IU of vitamin D daily can lead to a modest reduction in depressive symptoms. Specifically, those with existing depressive symptoms experienced a more significant improvement. Notably, at higher doses of 8000 IU per day, the reduction was even more pronounced.

Interestingly, the benefits were more evident in the short term, especially during trials that lasted between 8 and 24 weeks. After this period, the effects seemed to diminish, suggesting the need for ongoing supplementation to maintain benefits.

It's important to mention that vitamin D3 did not show any significant effects on anxiety symptoms. While the results indicate a potential role for vitamin D3 in reducing depression, further high-quality research is necessary to fully understand its impact, particularly regarding anxiety.
We set out to explore the effects of vitamin D supplementation, particularly vitamin D3, on depression and related conditions. In our analysis, we reviewed data from six randomized clinical trials with a total of 356 participants.

Surprisingly, our findings showed no significant changes in serotonin levels between those who took vitamin D supplements and those who did not. This lack of impact indicates that vitamin D3 might not play a crucial role in managing depression, at least not through its effects on serotonin.

The trials we examined included a variety of groups, such as children and individuals with autism spectrum disorders, but none showed a noteworthy benefit from vitamin D supplementation either.

While the results may seem disappointing, they do highlight the need for further research to better understand the potential role of vitamin D in mental health. We believe exploring other avenues could provide new insights into treating depression and associated disorders.
We investigated whether vitamin D supplementation could help reduce depressive symptoms and lower the likelihood of needing antidepressants in older Australian adults. The D-Health Trial, which involved over 21,000 participants aged between 60 and 84, provided a solid platform for our research. This trial was carefully designed, using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled approach, which is the gold standard in clinical research.

Participants answered the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to measure their depressive symptoms multiple times over five years, while national prescribing records allowed us to track the use of antidepressants.

Our findings revealed that monthly vitamin D supplementation did not show any significant benefits for alleviating depression overall. The average difference in PHQ-9 scores between the vitamin D and placebo groups was negligible. Moreover, the incidence of antidepressant use in both groups remained quite similar.

However, when we looked closer, some interesting trends emerged. For individuals already on antidepressants at the start of the study, vitamin D did seem to improve their depression scores slightly. Additionally, participants with low vitamin D levels at the outset showed a decrease in the risk of starting antidepressants after supplementation. Unfortunately, those with sufficient vitamin D levels saw an increased risk of antidepressant use.

Thus, while we didn’t find strong support for vitamin D's effectiveness against depression in general, our subgroup analyses suggest there might be some nuances worth exploring further.

References

  1. Putranto R, Setiati S, Nasrun MW, Witjaksono F, Immanuel S, et al. Effects of cholecalciferol supplementation on depressive symptoms, C-peptide, serotonin, and neurotrophin-3 in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Narra J. 2024;4:e1342. doi:10.52225/narra.v4i3.1342
  2. Ghaemi S, Zeraattalab-Motlagh S, Jayedi A, Shab-Bidar S. The effect of vitamin D supplementation on depression: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychol Med. 2024;54:1. doi:10.1017/S0033291724001697
  3. Alimohammadi-Kamalabadi M, Ziaei S, Hasani M, Mohammadi S, Mehrbod M, et al. Does vitamin D supplementation impact serotonin levels? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Sci Rep. 2024;7:e2276. doi:10.1002/hsr2.2276
  4. Satyanarayana PT, Suryanarayana R, Yesupatham ST, Varadapuram Ramalingareddy SR, Gopalli NA. Does Vitamin D3 Supplementation Improve Depression Scores among Rural Adolescents? A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2024;16. doi:10.3390/nu16121828
  5. Renteria KM, Constantine E, Teoh CM, Cooper A, Lozano N, et al. Combination of vitamin D and fructooligosaccharides upregulates colonic vitamin D receptor in C57BL/6J mice and affects anxiety-related behavior in a sex-specific manner. Nutr Res. 2024;125:16. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2024.02.003
  6. Wang C, Cui C, Xie X, Chen B, Feng L, et al. Calcitriol attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation and depressive-like behaviors by suppressing the P2X7R/NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2024;241:1329. doi:10.1007/s00213-024-06565-1
  7. Ceolin G, Moreira JD, Quialheiro A, Silva AAM, d'Orsi E, et al. Vitamin D serum concentration is prospectively associated with depressive symptoms in the EpiFloripa Aging Cohort Study: a structural equation modeling approach. Braz J Psychiatry. 2024;46:e20233153. doi:10.47626/1516-4446-2023-3153
  8. Sirasangi MI, Roohi TF, Krishna KL, Kinattingal N, Wani SUD, et al. Dietary Co-supplements attenuate the chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression in mice. Behav Brain Res. 2024;459:114788. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114788
  9. Evanchuk JL, Kozyrskyj A, Vaghef-Mehrabani E, Lamers Y, Giesbrecht GF, et al. Maternal Iron and Vitamin D Status during the Second Trimester Is Associated with Third Trimester Depression Symptoms among Pregnant Participants in the APrON Cohort. J Nutr. 2024;154:174. doi:10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.10.029
  10. Al-Ramadhan FR, Abulmeaty MMA, Alquraishi M, Razak S, Alhussain MH. Effect of Vitamin D3 on Depressive Behaviors of Rats Exposed to Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress. Biomedicines. 2023;11. doi:10.3390/biomedicines11082112
  11. Vyas CM, Mischoulon D, Chang G, Reynolds CF, Cook NR, et al. Relation of serum BDNF to major depression and exploration of mechanistic roles of serum BDNF in a study of vitamin D3 and omega-3 supplements for late-life depression prevention. J Psychiatr Res. 2023;163:357. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.05.069
  12. Sandboge S, Räikkönen K, Lahti-Pulkkinen M, Hauta-Alus H, Holmlund-Suila E, et al. Effect of Vitamin D3 Supplementation in the First 2 Years of Life on Psychiatric Symptoms at Ages 6 to 8 Years: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6:e2314319. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.14319
  13. Lisakovska O, Labudzynskyi D, Khomenko A, Isaev D, Savotchenko A, et al. Brain vitamin D-auto/paracrine system in relation to structural, neurophysiological, and behavioral disturbances associated with glucocorticoid-induced neurotoxicity. Front Cell Neurosci. 2023;17:1133400. doi:10.3389/fncel.2023.1133400
  14. Tarikere Satyanarayana P, Suryanarayana R, Theophilus Yesupatham S, Reddy S, Reddy N. Is Sunshine Vitamin Related to Adolescent Depression? A Cross-Sectional Study of Vitamin D Status and Depression Among Rural Adolescents. Cureus. 2023;15:e34639. doi:10.7759/cureus.34639
  15. Rahman ST, Waterhouse M, Romero BD, Baxter C, English DR, et al. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on depression in older Australian adults. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2023;38:e5847. doi:10.1002/gps.5847
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  17. Ielmini M, Gallo D, Tanda ML, Piantanida E, Callegari C, et al. Assessment of the Correlation Between Unipolar and Bipolar Depression, Calcium Levels, Thyroid Function, and Inflammatory Markers: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study. Psychopharmacol Bull. 2025;55:8.
  18. Serefko A, Lachowicz-Radulska J, Szopa A, Herbet M, Czylkowska A, et al. The Novel Imipramine-Magnesium Complex Exerts Antidepressant-like Activity in Mice Subjected to the Forced Swim Test and the Tail Suspension Test. Molecules. 2025;30. doi:10.3390/molecules30030519
  19. Bardinet J, Pouchieu C, Chuy V, Merle B, Pellay H, et al. Association between nutrient patterns and odds of depressive symptomatology: a population-based cohort of older adults followed during 15-y. Eur J Nutr. 2025;64:88. doi:10.1007/s00394-025-03597-x
  20. Rodríguez-Morán M, Guerrero-Romero F, Barragán-Zuñiga J, Gamboa-Gómez CI, Weyman-Vela Y, et al. Combined oral supplementation with magnesium plus vitamin D alleviates mild to moderate depressive symptoms related to long-COVID: an open-label randomized, controlled clinical trial. Magnes Res. 2024;37:49. doi:10.1684/mrh.2024.0535
  21. Zhao W, Jin H. Magnesium depletion score and depression: a positive correlation among US adults. Front Public Health. 2024;12:1486434. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1486434
  22. Carnegie RE, Zheng J, Borges MC, Jones HJ, Wade KH, et al. Micronutrients and Major Depression: A Mendelian Randomisation Study. Nutrients. 2024;16. doi:10.3390/nu16213690
  23. Cai Z, She J, Liu X, Li R, Guo S, et al. Associations between magnesium depletion score and depression among individuals aged 20 to 60 years. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2024;86:127543. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2024.127543
  24. Strodl E, Bambling M, Parnam S, Ritchie G, Cramb S, et al. Probiotics and magnesium orotate for the treatment of major depressive disorder: a randomised double blind controlled trial. Sci Rep. 2024;14:20841. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-71093-z
  25. Hajhashemy Z, Shirani F, Askari G. Dietary Magnesium Intake in Relation to Depression in Adults: A GRADE-Assessed Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-analysis of Epidemiologic Studies. Nutr Rev. 2025;83:217. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuae056
  26. Abdelmoneam AH, Khafagy GM, Elbeh KA, Hasan MDA. Impact of Magnesium and Ferritin Deficiency on Depression Among Adolescent Students. J Prim Care Community Health. 2024;15:21501319241252570. doi:10.1177/21501319241252570
  27. Chou MH, Yang YK, Wang JD, Lin CY, Lin SH. Elevated C-Reactive Protein Levels Modify the Effect of Magnesium on Depressive Symptoms: A Population-Based Study. Nutrients. 2023;15. doi:10.3390/nu15071560
  28. Chou MH, Yang YK, Wang JD, Lin CY, Lin SH. The Association of Serum and Dietary Magnesium with Depressive Symptoms. Nutrients. 2023;15. doi:10.3390/nu15030774
  29. Li Z, Chen K, Shao Q, Lu H, Zhang X, et al. Nanoparticulate MgH ameliorates anxiety/depression-like behaviors in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis by regulating microglial polarization and oxidative stress. J Neuroinflammation. 2023;20:16. doi:10.1186/s12974-023-02696-y
  30. Wang H, Jin M, Xie M, Yang Y, Xue F, et al. Protective role of antioxidant supplementation for depression and anxiety: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. J Affect Disord. 2023;323:264. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.072
  31. Saba S, Faizi F, Sepandi M, Nehrir B. Effect of short-term magnesium supplementation on anxiety, depression and sleep quality in patients after open-heart surgery. Magnes Res. 2022;35:62. doi:10.1684/mrh.2022.0503
  32. Abiri B, Sarbakhsh P, Vafa M. Randomized study of the effects of vitamin D and/or magnesium supplementation on mood, serum levels of BDNF, inflammation, and SIRT1 in obese women with mild to moderate depressive symptoms. Nutr Neurosci. 2022;25:2123. doi:10.1080/1028415X.2021.1945859
  33. Miller ES, Sakowicz A, Roy A, Wang A, Yang A, et al. Is peripartum magnesium sulfate associated with a reduction in postpartum depressive symptoms?. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2021;3:100407. doi:10.1016/j.ajogmf.2021.100407
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