BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is seen in a high proportion of people with established psychotic disorders, but it is not known if this is present at onset of the illness. We set out to examine vitamin D levels in people with their first episode of psychosis (FEP). METHOD: We conducted a matched case-control study to examine vitamin D levels and rates of vitamin D deficiency in sixty nine patients presenting with their FEP and sixty nine controls matched for age, sex and ethnicity. Differences between groups were tested using student's-t tests, paired t-tests and odds ratios for further analysis. RESULTS: Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in cases than in controls (p<0.001). The odds ratio of being vitamin D deficient was 2.99 in the FEP group relative to the control group. There was no correlation between vitamin D levels and length of hospitalisation in the patient group (r=-0.027, p=0.827). CONCLUSIONS: We found higher rates of vitamin D deficiency in people with FEP compared to matched controls. Given that vitamin D is neuroprotective; that developmental vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for psychosis, and that incipient psychosis may affect lifestyle factors and diet, future studies are required to examine this association further. In the meantime, there is a need for more widespread testing of vitamin D levels in FEP and for the development of appropriate management strategies.
BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is seen in a high proportion of people with established psychotic disorders, but it is not known if this is present at onset of the illness. We set out to examine vitamin D levels in people with their first episode of psychosis (FEP). METHOD: We conducted a matched case-control study to examine vitamin D levels and rates of vitamin D deficiency in sixty nine patients presenting with their FEP and sixty nine controls matched for age, sex and ethnicity. Differences between groups were tested using student's-t tests, paired t-tests and odds ratios for further analysis. RESULTS: Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in cases than in controls (p<0.001). The odds ratio of being vitamin D deficient was 2.99 in the FEP group relative to the control group. There was no correlation between vitamin D levels and length of hospitalisation in the patient group (r=-0.027, p=0.827). CONCLUSIONS: We found higher rates of vitamin D deficiency in people with FEP compared to matched controls. Given that vitamin D is neuroprotective; that developmental vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for psychosis, and that incipient psychosis may affect lifestyle factors and diet, future studies are required to examine this association further. In the meantime, there is a need for more widespread testing of vitamin D levels in FEP and for the development of appropriate management strategies.
Authors: James D Clelland; Laura L Read; Valérie Drouet; Angela Kaon; Alexandra Kelly; Karen E Duff; Robert H Nadrich; Amit Rajparia; Catherine L Clelland Journal: Schizophr Res Date: 2014-04-29 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: Stefania Schiavone; Maria G Morgese; Emanuela Mhillaj; Maria Bove; Angelo De Giorgi; Francesco P Cantatore; Claudia Camerino; Paolo Tucci; Nicola Maffulli; Vincenzo Cuomo; Luigia Trabace Journal: Front Pharmacol Date: 2016-06-08 Impact factor: 5.810
Authors: Conrad O Iyegbe; Anita Acharya; John Lally; Poonam Gardner-Sood; Louise S Smith; Shubulade Smith; Robin Murray; Oliver Howes; Fiona Gaughran Journal: NPJ Schizophr Date: 2015-10-28
Authors: J Lally; P Gardner-Sood; M Firdosi; C Iyegbe; B Stubbs; K Greenwood; R Murray; S Smith; O Howes; F Gaughran Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2016-03-22 Impact factor: 3.630