Neurobiological Mechanisms of Vitamin D in Anxiety: Evidence from Rodent Models and Bioinformatics-Based Target Identification.

Background/

Objectives

Anxiety disorders represent a major global public health challenge, with increasing prevalence and substantial unmet therapeutic needs. Emerging evidence suggests that vitamin D modulates multiple neurobiological pathways involved in anxiety, although the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of experimental and bioinformatics evidence on the anxiolytic effects of vitamin D.

Methods

The current literature on the anxiolytic effects of vitamin D in rodent models was critically reviewed, focusing on evidence related to neurotransmitter systems, neuroplasticity, neurotrophic factors, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and receptor-mediated signaling. Bioinformatics analyses were incorporated to identify molecular targets and signaling pathways potentially linking vitamin D to anxiety-related mechanisms.

Results

The integrated evidence indicates that vitamin D exerts pleiotropic neurobiological effects through the coordinated modulation of neuroinflammatory signaling, neuroplasticity, monoaminergic neurotransmission, neuroendocrine regulation, epigenetic mechanisms, and vitamin D metabolism, all of which are implicated in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders. Bioinformatics analyses further supported these findings by identifying molecular targets and signaling pathways potentially involved in the anxiolytic effects of vitamin D.

Conclusions

Current evidence supports a potential role for vitamin D in anxiety disorders, but further translational and clinical studies are required to establish its therapeutic value.