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Vitamin D homeostasis, bone mineral metabolism, and seasonal affective disorder during 1 year of Antarctic residence

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Abstract

Summary

Low serum vitamin D and increased parathormone levels were found to be associated with depression and stress in a wintering expedition of 20 healthy male subjects over a period of 1 year in Antarctica. The continuous daylight during summer and the dark polar winter affect endogenous vitamin D production. Long-term effects on bone health need to be studied further.

Purpose

Vitamin D plays a significant role in calcium and bone mineral metabolism and also affects cardiovascular, psychological, and cognitive functions. The ultraviolet B radiation component of sunlight, which shows marked seasonal variation in Antarctica, influences the synthesis of vitamin D. Depression and mood disorders are associated with this extreme photoperiod. In this study, we attempted to gauge the alteration of vitamin D homeostasis in Antarctica and its effect on bone mineral metabolism and mood over a period of 1 year.

Materials and methods

Twenty male subjects who wintered over at India’s Antarctic base Maitri (70°45′57″ S, 11°44′09″ E) from November 2010 to December 2011 were studied. Fasting serum samples were collected at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), total alkaline phosphatase (ALP), calcium, and phosphate. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS X), and Perceived Stress Scale were used to measure depression, affect, and stress.

Results

Mild vitamin D deficiency was present in two (10 %) subjects on arrival, which increased to seven (35 %) subjects during the polar winter at 6 months. The mean score on the BDI-II screen for depression was significantly higher during midwinter (4.8 ± 3.9) when compared with the baseline value (2.9 ± 2.1). Only 2/20 (10 %) of subjects met the criteria for minor depression. Higher PTH levels at 6 months correlated with a higher PANAS X score (p = 0.021). The mean values of calcium, inorganic phosphorus, and ALP were comparable during the course of the expedition.

Conclusion

Low light exposure during the dark polar winter, lower vitamin D, and increased intact PTH levels were found to be associated with depression during 1 year of Antarctic residence. The low dietary intake and decreased solar radiation exposure during the polar winter reduce serum vitamin D levels in otherwise healthy individuals, which suggests that supplementation may be necessary.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the team members of the 30th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. Ms. Nemisha Dawra, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston provided invaluable technical assistance for sample preparation and manuscript editing. Mr. Shankar Prasad and Mr. Ashok Kuthwad of the Indian Meteorological Department provided data on solar radiation over Maitri. Mr. Prabhat Sahoo of the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment, DRDO, Chandigrah and Mr Roy, Nuclear Medicine Laboratory, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi provided technical assistance. The project was supported by an institutional grant by the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Headland Sada, Goa, India (NCAOR 02/2013).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 30th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica, National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Headland Sada, Goa, India

    M. Premkumar & T. Sable

  2. Department of Medicine, BL Taneja Block, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Hospitals, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi, India, 110002

    D. Dhanwal & R. Dewan

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  1. M. Premkumar
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  2. T. Sable
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Correspondence to M. Premkumar.

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Premkumar, M., Sable, T., Dhanwal, D. et al. Vitamin D homeostasis, bone mineral metabolism, and seasonal affective disorder during 1 year of Antarctic residence. Arch Osteoporos 8, 129 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11657-013-0129-0

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