Anorexia is associated with low vitamin D at birth

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Vitamin D Council

Vitamin D: A role in eating disorders? Aug 2013
Behind a paywall reporting on Nov 2013 study

• {AN} is more common at higher latitudes
• some studies show emergency admissions for AN are seasonal.
• 1.8X more likely to have AN if mother had < 18 ng of vitamin D vs mothers with > 30 ng

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Anorexia vitamin D level 25 ng/ml – Aug 2014

High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in adolescent inpatients diagnosed with eating disorders.
Int J Eat Disord. 2014 Aug 18. doi: 10.1002/eat.22347. Epub ahead of print
Modan-Moses D1, Levy-Shraga Y, Pinhas-Hamiel O, Kochavi B, Enoch-Levy A, Vered I, Stein D.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies assessing vitamin D status in adolescents with eating disorders showed inconsistent results. The aim of the current study was to assess vitamin D status in a large cohort of adolescent inpatients with eating disorders and its relation to bone mineral density (BMD) and depression.

METHOD:25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase levels as well as BMD and depression were assessed on admission in 87 inpatients (aged 16 ± 2 years, females = 81) with eating disorders [anorexia nervosa (AN) = 64; bulimia nervosa (BN) = 5; eating disorders not otherwise specified-binge/purge type (EDNOS-B/P) = 18].

RESULTS: Mean 25OHD levels were 24.1 ± 7.5 ng/ml (25.0 ± 7.6, 25.4 ± 9.9, and 22.0 ± 9.9 ng/ml in patients with AN, BN, and EDNOS-B/P, respectively). Vitamin D deficiency (<15 ng/ml) was found in 7.8% of the patients, and insufficiency (15-20 ng/ml) in 22.2%. Only 16.7% had levels >32 ng/ml, considered optimal by some experts. No associations were found between 25OHD levels and BMD or comorbid depression. 25OHD levels during winter were significantly lower than summer levels (p < .001). Mean lumbar spine BMD z-score in patients with AN and EDNOS-B/P type was low (-1.5 ± 1.1) and correlated with body mass index standard deviation score (p = .03).

DISCUSSION: Adolescents with eating disorders show a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. Given the risk of osteoporosis in this population, 25OHD levels found in this group may not offer optimal bone protection. Vitamin D levels should be routinely checked and supplementation should be administered as required.
Copyright © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PMID: 25130505

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Season of birth related to AN – summaries of 11 studies

Anorexia Nervosa: Can We Blame The Season Of Birth
Dec 2012 Answer = YES

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Season of birth and anorexia nervosa May 2011

Has the following chart

PDF is attached at the bottom of this page

We anticipate that supplementing with vitamin D while pregnant will reduce later anorexia

No studes (positive nor negative), so far, as to Vitamin D being able to treat anorexia
Hint that Vitamin D intervention might treat AN: Vitamin D Intervention treats many other SOB diseases - (see chart below)

Speculation by Vitamin D Life
Infant was programmed (epigenetics) to expect low vitamin D in the environment they were being born into - and thus appreciate vitamin D when it was found
Later in liife the person learned that they were able to get a "high" by generating vitamin D by losing weight.

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See also VitaminDWIki

• Eating disorder in late teen girls was 2.8X more likely if mom had low vitamin at 18 weeks Nov 2013
• Anorexia nervosa – many supplement with Vitamin D – meta-analysis Nov 2014
• Is There a Link Between Autism and Anorexia (yes, vitamin D) – Feb 2016
• Search Vitamin D Life for “Bulimia nervosa” OR “anorexia nervosa” OR “binge eating” OR “eating disorder” 40 items as of Feb 2016
• Season of Birth category listing has 22 items along with related searches
• Schizophrenia increased 40 percent for Spring births after Danes stopped vitamin D fortification – April 2014
• Diseases correlated to month of birth – 2008 which has the following chart - which has Eating Disorders