Vitamin D, SSRIs and the Musculoskeletal System

Osteoporosis Clinical Trial

Official title:

Depression - Can Vitamin D Alleviate Symptoms of Depression Not Cured by Antidepressants as Well as Alleviate Negative Skeletal Effects Caused by Antidepressants?

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01932931
• Other study ID #: N-20130052
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: August 28, 2013
• Last updated: January 9, 2018
• Start date: October 1, 2013
• Est. completion date: September 1, 2016

Study information

• Verified date: January 2018
• Source: Aalborg University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

In recent years it has become evident that some types of antidepressants are associated both with an increased risk of falling and decreased bone mineral density. These factors predispose patients for serious fractures such as hip fractures with substantial morbidity and mortality. The specific mechanisms involved in this negative impact on bone and postural control have not been fully elucidated. It is well known that Vitamin D plays an important role for bone health as well as muscle function and thus indirectly postural control. Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency has been observed among depressed patients. To our knowledge no study has investigated the involvement of Vitamin D in relation to the increased risk of fractures associated with antidepressants. Therefore, this project will investigate the underlying mechanisms leading to skeletal impairment and musculoskeletal symptoms in patients receiving different types of antidepressants. Moreover, the effect of vitamin D supplementation will be investigated among patients taking these antidepressants.

150 subjects will participate in this study: 50 of which is diagnosed with depression and receive Citalopram (SSRIs); 50 depressed subjects receiving Mirtazapine(NaSRI); and 50 controls. Through randomisation half of the subjects in each group will receive daily Vitamin D supplementation for a period of one year. Through this period all 150 subjects will be followed through different measurements including bone density, muscle function and balance, nociception, quality of life and depression severity.

It is expected that results from this study will provide increasing awareness and knowledge of the side effect profile of antidepressants on bone metabolism. This may prompt clinicians to screen patients at high risk of drug-induced osteopenia or osteoporosis and accordingly provide treatment, which may reduce the incidence of potentially avoidable fractures. Moreover, some types of antidepressants may show to produce a minimal or even no effect on bone turnover, and should be considered as first line treatment in the group of patients at risk of fractures.

Description:

Background

Antidepressants are widespread in use, with more than 460.000 people in Denmark receiving this type of treatment ("Statens Serum Institut - Statistikker," 2012). Despite advances in medical treatment of depression in the last decades , recent studies have shown an association between the antidepressants Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and increased risks of falls and decreased bone mineral density, resulting in increased risks of bone fractures. As SSRIs are prescribed as first line treatment for depression , such side effects could have detrimental effects for several patients.

Residual symptoms such as tiredness, muscle weakness and muscle pain are observed in patients treated with antidepressants. It is not yet known if some of the residual symptoms of depression, and the negative effects on the skeleton may be mediated via decreased levels of vitamin D. Any decrease in vitamin D may be mediated either by the antidepressants or due to the depression per se (decreased exposure to sunlight and poor dietary habits). The treatment with antidepressants may improve the depression, but may not correct the vitamin D deficiency leaving residual symptoms, which may be interpreted as depression-related and this as incomplete response to the antidepressant treatment. Treatment with vitamin D may thus help alleviate some of the symptoms otherwise attributed to the depression leading to treatment with antidepressants (confounding by indication). Alternatively, antidepressants may interfere with biological processes that affect uptake or metabolism of Vitamin D resulting in low levels of the vitamin D that may have detrimental effects on bone turnover and muscle function.

State-of-the-art For the antidepressants a difference has been observed between SSRI and the newer antidepressants. SSRI are associated with decreased bone mineral density and an increased risk of fractures, whereas for the newer antidepressants no increase in the risk of fractures has been seen , and little is known on their effect on bone density and bone turnover. This is concerning as they are in widespread use.

The effects of SSRI may be mediated via direct serotoninergic effects on the bone cells and SSRIs and the newer antidepressants may affect the cardiovascular system, which may increase the risk of falls. The increased risk of falls may perhaps also be related to muscle weakness stemming from vitamin D deficiency or to effects on the central nervous system affecting postural balance. The risk of falls may explain an early increase in the risk of fractures, whereas any effects on bone density may increase long-term risk of fractures. In depressed patients reduced physical activity may also affect bone via disuse osteoporosis. It is thus not clear if some of the associations previously observed for antidepressants and detrimental skeletal effects may be mediated by the underlying disease (depression), or by factors related to the drugs themselves.

Perspectives and relevance to the community If a cheap and simple treatment with vitamin D may improve quality of life and musculoskeletal status among depressed patients, this may e.g. bring many patients back to work and thus contribute significantly to public health. Moreover, information regarding the influence SSRIs has on bone turnover relative to postural control will contribute significantly to the unravelling of what mechanisms that are affected negatively by different SSRIs leading to increased risk of fractures. This will finally contribute to better understanding of the side effect profile of these drugs and hence enable better management of these in the clinic. This is of great value, since there, as stated earlier, is a large group of patients receiving this class of drug.

Formulation of problem In recent years it has become evident that some types of antidepressants have a deleterious effect on bone metabolism with serious clinical consequences such as increased risk of fractures possibly with subsequent complications. Moreover, the majority of patients treated with antidepressants have residual symptoms including tiredness, muscle weakness and muscle pain, which are similar to symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. Increasing awareness and knowledge of the side effect profile of antidepressants on bone metabolism may prompt clinicians to screen patients at high risk of drug-induced osteopenia or osteoporosis and accordingly provide treatment, which may reduce the incidence of potentially avoidable fractures. Moreover, some types of antidepressants may show to produce a minimal or even no effect on bone turnover, and should be considered as first line treatment in the group of patients at risk of fractures. Therefore, this study, which consists of a cross-sectional and longitudinal study design, will address the following aims through biochemical and clinical characterisation: 1) to unravel underlying mechanisms leading to skeletal impairment and musculoskeletal symptoms or alterations in sensory-motor interactions (such as impaired balance) in patients receiving different types of antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or other newer antidepressants and 2) to investigate the effect of co-administrating vitamin D on bone status, sensory-motor interaction, and parameters associated with quality of life and depression in a randomised controlled clinical trial.

Hypotheses:

• Decreased levels of Vitamin D may be caused by the depression by itself because of behavioural changes (less time outdoors and thus sun-exposure, and poor dietary habits)

• Certain types of antidepressants may alter the level of Vitamin D with a negative effect on the musculoskeletal system (residual symptoms) with measurable effects on postural control and bone mineral density (BMD).

• Decreased vitamin D levels may lead to musculoskeletal symptoms that are not corrected by treatment of the depression with antidepressants (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) or Noradrenergic and specific serotonergic Antidepressants (NaSSAs)).

• By supplementing with vitamin D some of the musculoskeletal symptoms and disruptions of bone status may be corrected.

• The increased risk of fractures is either caused by the SSRIs' effect on postural control and thus fall incidence or decreases in BMD, or a result of both.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 71
• Est. completion date: September 1, 2016
• Est. primary completion date: February 28, 2015
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Female
• Age group: 50 Years to 90 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Current Citalopram or Mirtazapine users < 6 months, or individuals who are going to initiate treatment of either Citalopram, Mirtazapine within the following two months or

• Healthy controls, i.e. not depressed or receiving antidepressants

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current or use within the past 6 months of drugs which affects bone turnover such as corticosteroids, hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women, drugs against osteoporosis or other bone diseases (Paget's disease of bone), vitamin D supplementation (>35 micrograms daily), Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA), Cyclosporine (CsA), Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)

• Impaired renal function (serum creatinine > 150 micromolar/l)

• Pregnant women

• Individuals diagnosed with cancer or a metabolic disorder such as diabetes

• Individuals with prosthetic material in hip or spine

• Individuals diagnosed with a disease that affects bone such as Paget's disease of the bone, or fibrous dysplasia

• Individuals which is not considered eligible for the clinical trial e.g. individuals diagnosed with dementia, severely psychotic or depressed individuals

• Individuals that have been taking any kind of antidepressants more than 6 months prior to the inclusion and if this treatment persisted for a period of minimum 12 months

• Individuals which cannot stand up and stand still without support or a helping device due to physically impairment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Depression
• Depressive Disorder
• Depressive Disorder, Major
• Major Depression
• Osteoporosis

Intervention

Dietary Supplement:
• cholecalciferol (50ug)
The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of high dose vitamin D3 supplementation on the muscoloskeletal system among patients treated with antidepressants due to a diagnosis of major depressive disorder

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Denmark	Aalborg University	Aalborg	North Jutland
Denmark	CCBR	Aalborg	North Jutland

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Aalborg University	Aalborg Universitetshospital

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Denmark, 

References & Publications (12)

Arvold DS, Odean MJ, Dornfeld MP, Regal RR, Arvold JG, Karwoski GC, Mast DJ, Sanford PB, Sjoberg RJ. Correlation of symptoms with vitamin D deficiency and symptom response to cholecalciferol treatment: a randomized controlled trial. Endocr Pract. 2009 Apr;15(3):203-12. — View Citation

Braithwaite RS, Col NF, Wong JB. Estimating hip fracture morbidity, mortality and costs. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003 Mar;51(3):364-70. Review. — View Citation

Christensen P, Thomsen HY, Pedersen OL, Gram LF, Kragh-Sørensen P. Orthostatic side effects of clomipramine and citalopram during treatment for depression. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1985;86(4):383-5. — View Citation

Fekadu A, Rane LJ, Wooderson SC, Markopoulou K, Poon L, Cleare AJ. Prediction of longer-term outcome of treatment-resistant depression in tertiary care. Br J Psychiatry. 2012 Nov;201(5):369-75. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.111.102665. Epub 2012 Sep 6. — View Citation

Gelenberg AJ. A review of the current guidelines for depression treatment. J Clin Psychiatry. 2010 Jul;71(7):e15. doi: 10.4088/JCP.9078tx1c. Review. — View Citation

Oderda LH, Young JR, Asche CV, Pepper GA. Psychotropic-related hip fractures: meta-analysis of first-generation and second-generation antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs. Ann Pharmacother. 2012 Jul-Aug;46(7-8):917-28. doi: 10.1345/aph.1Q589. Epub 2012 Jul 17. — View Citation

Pollock BG. Adverse reactions of antidepressants in elderly patients. J Clin Psychiatry. 1999;60 Suppl 20:4-8. Review. — View Citation

Rabenda V, Nicolet D, Beaudart C, Bruyère O, Reginster JY. Relationship between use of antidepressants and risk of fractures: a meta-analysis. Osteoporos Int. 2013 Jan;24(1):121-37. doi: 10.1007/s00198-012-2015-9. Epub 2012 May 26. — View Citation

Rizzoli R, Cooper C, Reginster JY, Abrahamsen B, Adachi JD, Brandi ML, Bruyère O, Compston J, Ducy P, Ferrari S, Harvey NC, Kanis JA, Karsenty G, Laslop A, Rabenda V, Vestergaard P. Antidepressant medications and osteoporosis. Bone. 2012 Sep;51(3):606-13. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2012.05.018. Epub 2012 May 30. Review. — View Citation

Rodriguez de la Torre B, Dreher J, Malevany I, Bagli M, Kolbinger M, Omran H, Lüderitz B, Rao ML. Serum levels and cardiovascular effects of tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in depressed patients. Ther Drug Monit. 2001 Aug;23(4):435-40. — View Citation

Schwan S, Hallberg P. SSRIs, bone mineral density, and risk of fractures--a review. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2009 Oct;19(10):683-92. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2009.05.001. Epub 2009 Jun 21. Review. — View Citation

Vestergaard P, Prieto-Alhambra D, Javaid MK, Cooper C. Fractures in users of antidepressants and anxiolytics and sedatives: effects of age and dose. Osteoporos Int. 2013 Feb;24(2):671-80. doi: 10.1007/s00198-012-2043-5. Epub 2012 Jun 6. — View Citation

* Note: There are 12 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Vitamin D	Change in Vitamin D	baseline, 6 months and 1 year
Primary	Bone Mineral Density (DXA)	change in Bone Mineral Density measured through bone scans of hip and spine (DXA)	baseline and 1 year
Secondary	muscle function	Timed up and go, chair stand, isomeric handgrip exercise and postural control/balance (force plate measure with and without eyes closed, and standing on firm/soft underlay)	baseline, 6 months and 1 year
Secondary	pain sensitivity	pain induced through deep muscle pain (cuff algometry) and superficial dermal pain (thermal)	baseline, 6 months and 1 year
Secondary	Quality of life	two questionnaires: SF-36 and SYSDIET-intervention 2009	baseline, 6 months and 1 year
Secondary	Degree of depression	Assessed by Hamilton depression scale (HAM-D)	baseline, 6 months and 1 year