Depression is a severe mood disorder which makes life harder for many. It’s been long studied how various micronutrients may play a role in the development of depression, and several links have been discovered.  

According to a meta analysis published in April 2022, the development of depression is significantly influenced by the levels of vitamin A and beta carotene found in plants which are converted to vitamin A by the body. 

The analysis summarized the results of 25 observational studies, then compared the risk of depression in the case of people who ingested high amounts of vitamin A and beta carotene with people who did not. They further examined how much vitamin A and beta carotene was ingested by people with depression compared to people who had no depression.  

The analysis concluded that low intake of both vitamin A and beta carotene considerably increased the risk of depression. They also found that people diagnosed with depression generally ingested notably low amounts of these micronutrients. This adds to the long list of proof supporting  the importance of vitamin A provision, not just for the immune system, but for mental health.