- A Randomized Controlled Trial of Vitamin D Supplementation in Iranian Patients With Schizophrenia: Effects on Serum Levels of Glycogen Synthase kinase-3β and Symptom Severity
- VitaminDWiki - Overview Schizophrenia and Vitamin D contains
- VitaminDWiki - Every schizophrenia measure was improved when vitamin D levels were normalized – June 2021
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Vitamin D Supplementation in Iranian Patients With Schizophrenia: Effects on Serum Levels of Glycogen Synthase kinase-3β and Symptom Severity
Int J Psychiatry Med. 2023 Aug 6; doi: 10.1177/00912174231193303 behind a $41 paywall
Parinaz Kalejahi 1, Sorayya Kheirouri 1, Seyed Gholamreza Noorazar 2
Background: Growing evidence has shown that hypovitaminosis D is a risk factor for developing schizophrenia and comorbid conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on serum levels of vitamin D, metabolic factors related to insulin resistance (IR) and the severity of the disorder in patients with schizophrenia.
Methods: Forty-eight chronic male patients with schizophrenia with vitamin D deficiency (≤20 ng/mL= (≤50 nmol/l) were selected and randomly assigned to vitamin D treatment and placebo groups. Subjects were supplemented for 8 weeks with vitamin D (2000 IU/day) and placebo, respectively.
Results: Within-group comparison revealed that the vitamin D group had a significant reduction in waist circumference, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale - total score (PANSS-TS) and, glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β) levels (P = .022, p = <.001 and P = .013 respectively). On the other hand, the placebo group showed a significant increase in the level of fasting serum insulin and Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) (P = .003 and P = .003). The between-group comparison showed a significant difference in terms of PANSS-TS, GSK-3β, Fasting serum insulin (FSI) and HOMA-IR (P = .022, P = .048, P = .013 and P = .014 respectively).
Conclusions: Among vitamin D deficient patients with schizophrenia, vitamin D supplementation may affect GSK-3 β, an important biomarker in schizophrenia and insulin resistance. In addition, vitamin D supplementation in such patients may reduce symptom severity.
VitaminDWiki - Overview Schizophrenia and Vitamin D contains
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
VitaminDWiki - Every schizophrenia measure was improved when vitamin D levels were normalized – June 2021
The goal: everyone > 30 ng
Those with the lowest vitamin D levels were given 50,000 IU weekly for 8 weeks