Schizophrenia
A growing body of evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency may also be a risk factor for schizophrenia. Studies have found that people with schizophrenia are more likely to be deficient in vitamin D than those without the condition. Additionally, there appears to be a relationship between lower levels of vitamin D and more severe symptoms of schizophrenia.
Studies reveal that those deficient in vitamin D were more likely to experience negative symptoms of the condition, such as social withdrawal and apathy. Researchers also found that people with schizophrenia who were deficient in vitamin D were more likely to be hospitalized for their condition.
More recent studies suggest that eliminating vitamin D deficiency in outpatient schizophrenia patients significantly improved both positive and negative symptoms of the condition. With all these studies, experts suggest vitamin D supplementation could represent a safe, inexpensive, and adjunctive treatment for patients with schizophrenia.
While the exact mechanism by which vitamin D deficiency contributes to schizophrenia is unknown, it is thought that the nutrient may play a role in brain development and function. Vitamin D deficiency is also linked to other mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.
