The association between vitamin D and symptom domains in psychotic disorders: A systematic review
Schizophr Res . 2021 Sep 8;237:79-92. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2021.08.001 - PDF is behind a paywall
Jonathan Tsiglopoulos 1, Nicholas Pearson 1, Nathan Mifsud 1, Kelly Allott 1, Brian O'Donoghue 2
NOTE: This review probably ignores
dose size,
dose duration.
dose type,
any use of Omega-3,
initial vitamin D level in RCTs
low vitamin D as child or in utero, etc.
Intervention of Vitamin D for Depression
- Infants getting an additional 800 IU of vitamin D for 2 years had 60% fewer psychiatric symptoms at age 7 – RCT May 2023
- Anxiety and Depression decreased in senior prediabetics with weekly 25,000 IU of Vitamin D – RCT Sept 2022
- Depression decreased by Vitamin D (12th study in Vitamin D Life) – RCT Nov 2022
- Overweight needed more EPA (4 grams) to fight depression – RCT Aug 2022
- Omega-3 did not prevent depression (they failed to reduce Omega-6, which blocks Omega-3) – RCT Dec 2021
- Weekly Vitamin D plus daily Magnesium is great (reduced depression in obese women in this case) – July 2021
- Depression in psychiatric youths reduced 28 percent after just 1 month of vitamin D – RCT Feb 2020
- Yet another study confirms Depression is treated by weekly Vitamin D (50,000 IU)– RCT Dec 2019
- Depression decreased after vitamin D (50,000 IU weekly to elderly in the case) – RCT Oct 2019
- Vitamin D - no cure for depression (when you use only 1200 IU) – Aug 2019
- Depression reduced in Diabetics with 3 months of 4,000 IU of vitamin D – RCT July 2019
- Vitamin D treatment of diabetes (50,000 IU every 2 weeks) augmented by probiotic – RCT June 2018
- Women had better sexual desire, orgasm and satisfaction after Vitamin D supplementation – Feb 2018
- Vitamin D depression RCT canceled: too many were taking Vitamin D supplements, etc. Feb 2018
- Depression in adolescent girls reduced somewhat by 50,000 IU weekly for 9 weeks – July 2017
- Perinatal depression decreased 40 percent with just a few weeks of 2,000 IU of vitamin D – RCT Aug 2016
- Just 1500 IU of Vitamin D significantly helps Prozac – RCT March 2013
- Reduced depression with single 300,000 IU injection of vitamin D – RCT June 2013
- 40,000 IU vitamin D weekly reduced depression in many obese subjects – RCT 2008
- 50,000 IU Vitamin D weekly Improves Mood, Lowers Blood Pressure in Type 2 Diabetics – Oct 2013
Meta-analyses of Depression
- Depression in seniors greatly reduced by Vitamin D (e.g. 50,000 IU) – meta-analysis June 2023
- Depression reduced if take more than 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily – umbrella meta-analysis – Jan 2023
- Depression reduced if use more than 2,800 IU of vitamin D – meta-analysis Aug 2022
- Depression is treated by 2,000 IU of Vitamin D – 2 meta-analyses July 2022
- Depression treated by 50K IU Vitamin D weekly (but not 1,000 IU daily) – meta-analysis Jan 2021
- Mental disorders fought by Omega-3 etc. - meta-meta-analysis Oct 2019
- Depression less likely if more Vitamin D (12 percent per 10 ng) – meta-analysis July 2019
- Anxiety severity reduced if more than 2 grams of Omega-3 – meta-analysis Sept 2018
- Less depression in seniors taking enough Omega-3 – meta-analysis July 2018
- Unipolar depression treated by Omega-3, Zinc, and probably Vitamin D – meta-analysis Oct 2017
- Depression is associated with low Magnesium – meta-analysis April 2015
- Clinical Trials of vitamin D can have “biological flaws” – Jan 2015
- Slight depression not reduced by adding vitamin D if already had enough (no surprise) – meta-analysis – Nov 2014
- Anti-depression medication about as good as big increase in vitamin D – meta-analysis of flawless data April 2014
- Depression might be reduced by vitamin D – meta-analysis March 2014
- Low vitamin D and depression - Study and meta-analysis, April 2013
- 2X more likely to be depressed if low vitamin D (cohort studies) - Meta-analysis Jan 2013
Meta-analyses of Omega-3 and Depression
Depression category listing has 260 items along with related searchesDepression summary
- Low vitamin D is associated with most types of depression, Including: Seasonal Affective Disorder. manic depression, bipolar disorder, dysthymia, Depression during/after pregnancy, Seniors, Suicide
- Depression substantially reduced by Vitamin D, Omega-3, Magnesium, etc – many studies
- Seasonal Affective Disorder is treated by both bright light and Vitamin D because both make serotonin
- Supplementing with Vitamin D (or getting more sun) decreases most types of depression as well as drugs
- Omega-3, Magnesium, and St. Johns' Wort also decrease depression
- Speculate that some combination (Vit D, Omega-3, Mg, St John's) will decrease depression even more
- Note: Both Omega-3 and Magnesium increase the amount of vitamin D which gets to tissues
- Antidepressants reduce cellular Vitamin D, increasing fractures, CVD, etc. - Oct 2022
- There are
260 items in the Depression category in Vitamin D LifeSome recent publications
- Depression in seniors greatly reduced by Vitamin D (e.g. 50,000 IU) – meta-analysis June 2023
- Depression reduced if take more than 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily – umbrella meta-analysis – Jan 2023
- Post-partum depression and low Vitamin D - many studies
- Depression: Low vitamin D in the strongest of 11 risk factors – Jan 2023
Anxiety studies include
14+ Vitamin D Life pages with ANXIETY in title
This list is automatically updated
Items found: 15 Cognitive category starts with the following
Very brief summary of Cognitive decline
Treatment : Vitamin D intervention slows or stops progression
Prevention : Many observational studies - perhaps Vitamin D prevents
Omega-3 both prevents and treats cognition
Wonder the benefits if both Vitamin D AND Omega-3 were to be used
Dementia page - 50 items
373 items in Cognition categorysee also Overview Alzheimer's-Cognition and Vitamin D
Overview Parkinson's and Vitamin D
Studies in both categories of Cognition and:
Cardiovascular (7 studies), Genetics (9 studies), Vitamin D Receptor (16 studies), Omega-3 (49 studies), Intervention (19 studies), Meta-analyses (22 studies), Depression (23 studies), Parkinson's (22 studies)
Click here for detailsPoor cognition 26 percent more likely if low Vitamin D (29 studies) – meta-analysis July 2017
Every schizophrenia measure was improved when vitamin D levels were normalized – June 2021
Cognitive Impairment and Dementia often associated with low Vitamin D – April 2020
IQ levels around the world are falling (perhaps lower Vitamin D, Iodine, or Omega-3)
Search Vitamin D Life for "WHITE MATTER" 325 items as of March 2023
Types of evidence that Vitamin D helps brain problems - 2014
Overview Schizophrenia and Vitamin D contains the following summary
14 reasons to think that schizophrenia is associated with low vitamin D
1) 97% of patients with schizophrenia are vitamin D deficient
2) Schizophrenia varies with latitude (UVB) by 10X (controversy)
3) Schizophrenia is more common in those with dark skin (when away from the equator)
4) Schizophrenia is associated with low natal vitamin D
5) Schizophrenia has been increasing around the world when vitamin D has been decreasing (controversy)
6) Schizophrenia is associated with low birth rate, which is associated with low vitamin D
7) Schizophrenia is associated with Autism which is associated with low vitamin D
8) Schizophrenia Bulletin Editorial (Jan 2014) speculated that Vitamin D could be a major player
9) Schizophrenia 2X more likely if low vitamin D - meta-analysis
10) Schizophrenia increased 40 % for Spring births after Danes stopped vitamin D fortification
11) Schizophrenia is associated with season of birth
12) Schizophrenia is associated with poor Vitamin D Receptor genes
13) Schizophrenia risk is decreased if give Vitamin D after birth
14) Schizophrenia symptoms reduced when Vitamin D levels are restored
Background: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among people with psychosis and may play a role in the aetiology of psychotic disorders. However, its impact on clinical symptom severity has not been independently reviewed.
Methods: We conducted a systematic search of randomized trials and observational studies that assessed the relationship between vitamin D and symptom domains (positive and negative psychotic symptoms, total and general psychopathology, cognitive and depressive) in people with a psychotic disorder.
Results: 1040 articles were identified, of which 29 were eligible for inclusion: 26 observational studies and 3 randomized trials. Five studies included people with First-Episode Psychosis (FEP) and 24 included people with enduring psychosis. Most observational studies found that vitamin D was
- inversely associated with negative symptoms (57%; 13/23),
- positively associated with cognitive performance (63%; 5/8), and
- bore no association with positive symptoms (68%; 15/22),
- total psychopathology (64%; 7/11),
- general psychopathology (57%; 4/7) or
- depressive symptoms (64%; 9/14).
Randomized controlled trials indicated that vitamin D supplementation
- improved cognitive performance (100%; 1/1) and, in some cases,
reduced
- total psychopathology (50%; 1/2),
- general psychopathology (50%; 1/2) and
- negative symptoms (30%; 1/3), but had
- no effect on positive (100%; 3/3) or depressive (100%; 3/3) symptoms.
Some positive associations were attenuated when controlled for potential confounders.
Conclusion: Low vitamin D was found to be inversely associated with more severe clinical symptoms in some, but not all symptom domains in people with psychosis. These preliminary findings warrant further exploration, particularly in regard to cognitive performance and negative symptoms.
Psychotic problems associated with low vitamin D – review Sept 2021 3434 visitors, last modified 12 Sep, 2021,
Printer Friendly Follow this page for updates This page is in the following categories (# of items in each category)
Depression summary
- Low vitamin D is associated with most types of depression, Including: Seasonal Affective Disorder. manic depression, bipolar disorder, dysthymia, Depression during/after pregnancy, Seniors, Suicide
- Depression substantially reduced by Vitamin D, Omega-3, Magnesium, etc – many studies
- Seasonal Affective Disorder is treated by both bright light and Vitamin D because both make serotonin
- Supplementing with Vitamin D (or getting more sun) decreases most types of depression as well as drugs
- Omega-3, Magnesium, and St. Johns' Wort also decrease depression
- Speculate that some combination (Vit D, Omega-3, Mg, St John's) will decrease depression even more
- Note: Both Omega-3 and Magnesium increase the amount of vitamin D which gets to tissues
- Antidepressants reduce cellular Vitamin D, increasing fractures, CVD, etc. - Oct 2022
- There are
260 items in the Depression category in Vitamin D Life Some recent publications
- Depression in seniors greatly reduced by Vitamin D (e.g. 50,000 IU) – meta-analysis June 2023
- Depression reduced if take more than 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily – umbrella meta-analysis – Jan 2023
- Post-partum depression and low Vitamin D - many studies
- Depression: Low vitamin D in the strongest of 11 risk factors – Jan 2023
Anxiety studies include
14+ Vitamin D Life pages with ANXIETY in title
This list is automatically updatedItems found: 15Cognitive category starts with the following
Very brief summary of Cognitive decline
Treatment : Vitamin D intervention slows or stops progression
Prevention : Many observational studies - perhaps Vitamin D prevents
Omega-3 both prevents and treats cognition
Wonder the benefits if both Vitamin D AND Omega-3 were to be used
Dementia page - 50 items373 items in Cognition category see also Overview Alzheimer's-Cognition and Vitamin D
Studies in both categories of Cognition and:
Overview Parkinson's and Vitamin D
Cardiovascular (7 studies), Genetics ( 9 studies), Vitamin D Receptor ( 16 studies), Omega-3 ( 49 studies), Intervention ( 19 studies), Meta-analyses ( 22 studies), Depression ( 23 studies), Parkinson's ( 22 studies)
Click here for detailsPoor cognition 26 percent more likely if low Vitamin D (29 studies) – meta-analysis July 2017
Every schizophrenia measure was improved when vitamin D levels were normalized – June 2021
Cognitive Impairment and Dementia often associated with low Vitamin D – April 2020
IQ levels around the world are falling (perhaps lower Vitamin D, Iodine, or Omega-3)
Search Vitamin D Life for "WHITE MATTER" 325 items as of March 2023Types of evidence that Vitamin D helps brain problems - 2014
Overview Schizophrenia and Vitamin D contains the following summary
14 reasons to think that schizophrenia is associated with low vitamin D
1) 97% of patients with schizophrenia are vitamin D deficient
2) Schizophrenia varies with latitude (UVB) by 10X (controversy)
3) Schizophrenia is more common in those with dark skin (when away from the equator)
4) Schizophrenia is associated with low natal vitamin D
5) Schizophrenia has been increasing around the world when vitamin D has been decreasing (controversy)
6) Schizophrenia is associated with low birth rate, which is associated with low vitamin D
7) Schizophrenia is associated with Autism which is associated with low vitamin D
8) Schizophrenia Bulletin Editorial (Jan 2014) speculated that Vitamin D could be a major player
9) Schizophrenia 2X more likely if low vitamin D - meta-analysis
10) Schizophrenia increased 40 % for Spring births after Danes stopped vitamin D fortification
11) Schizophrenia is associated with season of birth
12) Schizophrenia is associated with poor Vitamin D Receptor genes
13) Schizophrenia risk is decreased if give Vitamin D after birth
14) Schizophrenia symptoms reduced when Vitamin D levels are restored
Background: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among people with psychosis and may play a role in the aetiology of psychotic disorders. However, its impact on clinical symptom severity has not been independently reviewed.Methods: We conducted a systematic search of randomized trials and observational studies that assessed the relationship between vitamin D and symptom domains (positive and negative psychotic symptoms, total and general psychopathology, cognitive and depressive) in people with a psychotic disorder.
Results: 1040 articles were identified, of which 29 were eligible for inclusion: 26 observational studies and 3 randomized trials. Five studies included people with First-Episode Psychosis (FEP) and 24 included people with enduring psychosis. Most observational studies found that vitamin D was
- inversely associated with negative symptoms (57%; 13/23),
- positively associated with cognitive performance (63%; 5/8), and
- bore no association with positive symptoms (68%; 15/22),
- total psychopathology (64%; 7/11),
- general psychopathology (57%; 4/7) or
- depressive symptoms (64%; 9/14).
Randomized controlled trials indicated that vitamin D supplementation
- improved cognitive performance (100%; 1/1) and, in some cases,
reduced
- total psychopathology (50%; 1/2),
- general psychopathology (50%; 1/2) and
- negative symptoms (30%; 1/3), but had
- no effect on positive (100%; 3/3) or depressive (100%; 3/3) symptoms.
Some positive associations were attenuated when controlled for potential confounders.
Conclusion: Low vitamin D was found to be inversely associated with more severe clinical symptoms in some, but not all symptom domains in people with psychosis. These preliminary findings warrant further exploration, particularly in regard to cognitive performance and negative symptoms.
Psychotic problems associated with low vitamin D – review Sept 20213434 visitors, last modified 12 Sep, 2021, This page is in the following categories (# of items in each category)