Lally J, Ajnakina O, Singh N, Gardner-Sood P, Stubbs B, Stringer D, Di Forti M, David AS, Smith S, Murray RM, Howes OD, Gaughran F (2018) Schizophr Res. 2018 Aug 25. pii: S0920-9964(18)30503-6. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2018.08.011. [Epub ahead of print]
There is a paucity of longitudinal research investigating vitamin D in people with early psychosis.
Vitamin D levels were measured in 168 patients (64% (n = 108) male, mean age 29.3 (9.8) years) with first episode psychosis (FEP), along with measures of clinical state at baseline and at 12 months follow up. We assessed the a) cross sectional, and; b) longitudinal relationships between continuous and categorical 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and clinical symptoms at first contact for psychosis and at 12 months.
In FEP, 80% (n = 134) at baseline, and 76% at 12 months follow up, had suboptimal vitamin D levels (
We identified a prospective association between higher baseline serum Vitamin D levels and lower total psychotic symptoms and negative symptoms of psychosis at 12 months after first contact for psychosis. The results of this study require replication in larger prospective studies, and highlight the need for large randomised trials to assess the effect of vitamin D supplementation on symptoms of psychosis in FEP.