Vitamin D Deficiency and Associated Factors in Patients with Mental Disorders Treated in Routine Practice

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Psychiatry
• Clinical Biochemistry
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Vitamin D deficiency is a growing global health concern.
• Emerging evidence suggests a link between vitamin D levels and mental health disorders.
• Understanding these associations is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with various psychiatric illnesses.
• To identify demographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in this population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study including 220 patients (aged 19-81) with mental disorders (F00-F89).
• Data collected via medical records, questionnaires, and biochemical analysis of serum 25(OH)D, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and potassium.
• Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, and binary logistic regression (p≤0.05).

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was observed: 64% (<12 ng/mL), 20% (12-20 ng/mL), and 16% (>20 ng/mL).
• Female gender (OR=2.5) and clozapine use (OR=15.6) were significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency.
• Physical activity (OR=0.4), regular exercise (OR=0.2), and offal consumption (OR=0.5) were associated with sufficient vitamin D levels.

Conclusions:

• Patients with mental disorders exhibit a high risk for vitamin D deficiency.
• Female patients and those using clozapine require particular attention regarding vitamin D status.
• Promoting physical activity and healthy dietary habits may help mitigate vitamin D deficiency in psychiatric populations.