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Vitamin D

What is vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and steroid hormone. It can be ingested through a diet containing fish, eggs, vegetable oils, butter, liver, fortified milk and margarine, or may also be gained through exposure to the sun. Vitamin D has been linked to cell growth and foetal development, and low maternal concentration may adversely impact the developing brain.

What is the evidence on vitamin D levels in people with schizophrenia?

Moderate to high quality evidence finds a medium-sized effect of more vitamin D deficiency in people with schizophrenia than in people without a mental disorder. Moderate quality evidence shows people with first-episode psychosis also have lower vitamin D.

High quality evidence finds a small effect of lower vitamin D in people with schizophrenia compared to people with other psychoses. Moderate to high quality evidence finds no differences when compared to people with major depression.

October 2020
Last updated at: 3:45 am, 27th October 2020
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Fact Sheet Technical Commentary

NeuRA Libraries

Title Colour Legend:
Green - Topic summary is available.
Orange - Topic summary is being compiled.
Red - Topic summary has no current systematic review available.