In March 2019 researchers from Finland published the results of their study to assess the association between vitamin D levels and schizophrenia, other psychoses and non-psychotic depression. A total of 4,987 individuals were involved in the study, and included 40 with schizophrenia, 24 with other psychoses and 264 with non-psychotic depression. A vitamin D score was generated which took into consideration season, sex and latitude. Results showed that there was no difference in vitamin D level between the schizophrenia, other psychoses, non-psychotic depression and control groups. Vitamin D deficiency was seen in 3% and insufficiency in 26% of the individuals. It was noted that a low vitamin D score was associated with regular smoking in the group with schizophrenia. Although no difference in vitamin D levels were observed in individuals during this comparison of schizophrenia, psychoses, non-psychotic depression and control groups, further research is required to to try and explain the role of vitamin D in psychiatric conditions.
Ikonen H et al. Vitamin D status and correlates of low vitamin D in schizophrenia, other psychoses and non-psychotic depression – The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study. Psychiatry Res. 2019 Mar 12. [Epub ahead of print]