S200. Hypovitaminosis D in Schizophrenia: Prevalence and Associated Clinical Characteristics

Abstract

BackgroundSchizophrenia is an invalid and severe neurodevelopmental disorder. The implication of vitamin D in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia shows through the activation of cellular and inflammatory pathways. It is especially vitamin D deficiency that has been associated with schizophrenia.It is within this framework that this study aims to explore the relationship between vitamin D levels and the clinical characteristics in a cohort of Tunisian patients with schizophrenia.MethodsA cross-sectional and retrospective descriptive study was conducted at the “F” psychiatry department at the Razi Hospital, Manouba over a twelve-month period from June 1st, 2015 to May 31st, 2016, including 80 patients with schizophrenia in period of clinical remission. The evaluation focused on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. A dosage of vitamin D was performed.ResultsThe patients had an average age of 42.5 years and 70% were male. The average vitamine D level was 10,57ng/ml ±5,9. 49% of patients had vitamin D insufficiency (between 10 and 30 ng/ml) and 51% had vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/ml). Vitamin D levels had not been affected by the clinical characteristics of the disease. A negative correlation with the total score of the negative scale (p <0.001) as well as with the severity item of the clinical global impression scale (p = 0.01) were found.DiscussionA large number of research studies in immunogenetics and molecular biology have highlighted the involvement of vitamin D in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia through its role in the ontogenesis of dopaminergic systems and also through its intervention in the processes of neuro-protection, immunomodulation and the reduction of oxidative stress.In addition, it has been established that people with psychotic disorders have a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, but the correlates and relevance of this deficiency remain unclear.

Vitamin D Deficiency as a Risk Factor for Schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of Observational Studies

“…We also did not include one study with the outcome of 1,25(OH)D 3 [28]. Two studies with the cutoff point of 10 [29] or 12 ng/mL [30] and seven studies had no cutoff point of VDD or lack of relevant data [8,20,[31][32][33][34][35] was excluded from this meta-analysis. We also found two other abstracts that seemed to have overlapped sample sizes [36,37]; therefore, we included only the one with a larger sample size [36].…”

“…One study had considered the cutoff point of 32 ng/mL for VDD, and we summarized it into a group of VDI [41]. Of note, one citation has the result of all schizophrenic patients have the VDI (lower than 30 ng/mL), which could not include in the comparison [29]. Results implied that the overall prevalence of VDD and VDI in schizophrenic patients were 66% (95%CI [57%-76%]) and 76% (95%CI [69%, 83%]) ( Figure 3), respectively.…”

Evaluating the Effect of Melatonin on Positive and Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenic Patients: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study

“…Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that affects approximately 1% of the population ( 6 , 7 ). Patients with schizophrenia occupy about 50% of all psychiatric hospital beds and constitute 16% of all psychiatric patients receiving some form of treatment ( 8 ). Therefore, schizophrenia is associated with a high burden of chronic disability compared to other mental illnesses, and the economic and social costs of this disease are disproportionately high compared to its prevalence and incidence ( 9 , 10 ).…”