Managing autoimmune diabetes with comorbid anxiety and depression: a vitamin D-oriented therapeutic perspective

Background. Anxiety and depression are the most common psychiatric disorders that develop in patients with autoimmune diabetes mellitus (DM). This can be caused by hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and vitamin D deficiency. The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of cholecalciferol on anxiety and depression in the comprehensive treatment of patients with different phenotypes of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods. In order to assess the effectiveness of treatment, patients with classical type 1 DM and latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) were divided into 2 subgroups. Subgroup A of each group received cholecalciferol 20,000 IU in comprehensive treatment, 1 capsule per week for 3 months; subgroup B received only basic therapy. All patients were examined for situational and personal anxiety, depression, serum 25(OH)D level and indicators of carbohydrate metabolism in the dynamics of treatment (before and after 3 months). Results. In patients with classical DM, the level of situational anxiety underwent significant changes only when vitamin D was added to the basic therapy — the indicator in this group decreased by 21.5 %. The level of depression in patients receiving basic therapy changed slightly, and when vitamin D was added, it decreased by 15.8 %. In patients with LADA, the situational anxiety decreased by 20.4 %, and depression by 7.5 % when vitamin D was added to the basic treatment. Conclusions. The admi­nistration of cholecalciferol contributes to the improvement of carbohydrate metabolism indicators, anthropometric data, and a significant reduction in anxiety and depression, with more pronounced effect in patients with LADA.