Summary: Babies born with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to develop mental disorders such as ADHD, schizophrenia and autism later in life. The researchers analyzed data of more than 71,000 people, connecting a deficiency in neonatal vitamin D to an increase in the risks of several neurodevelopmental conditions.
This research extends previous studies and suggests that vitamin D of early life plays a crucial role in brain development. The results support the recommendations for vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and early childhood as a preventive measure of mental health disorders.
Key facts:
- Increased risk: Low vitamin D babies had higher chances of developing ADHD, schizophrenia and autism.
- Generalized deficiency: Vitamin D deficiency is common in pregnant women around the world.
- Preventive potential: Vitamin D supplementation to early life can reduce the risk of mental disorders.
Source: University of Queensland
Newborns with vitamin D deficiency are more likely to develop mental disorders like ADHD, schizophrenia and autism later, revealed a major study involving the University of Queensland.
In the largest study of the population of this type, the researchers examined the vitamin D status of 71,793 people, many of whom had a mental health disorder diagnosed during childhood and the beginning of adulthood.
Professor John McGrath of Queensland Brain Institute of UQ, led the study which was based in the National Center for Register Based Research, at Aarhus University and the State Serum Institute in Denmark.
He said they had examined 6 mental disorders: major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (TSA) and mental anorexia.
“We found evidence that people with a lower vitamin D concentration as a baby had an increased risk of schizophrenia, TSA and ADHD,” said Professor McGrath.
“Previous research had linked a deficiency in neonatal vitamin D with an increased risk of schizophrenia and autism, but this study examined a wider range of mental disorders, and included evidence based on two biomarkers linked to vitamin D and related genetics.”
Professor McGrath said their research suggested that vitamin D supplements during pregnancy and the first life could help reduce the risk of mental disorders in adulthood.
“Vitamin D is important for the development of a baby’s brain, and the low levels of vitamin D are common in pregnant women around the world,” he said.
“This is why many countries have recommended the use of vitamin D supplements during pregnancy.
“Similar to how folate supplements are recommended during pregnancy to prevent Spina Bifida, our research suggests that optimizing vitamin D levels at the start of life can reduce the risk of several neurodevelopmental disorders.”
The researchers analyzed data from the Ipsych study, which was founded in 2012 to study mental disorders in Denmark.
Vitamin D generally comes from sun exposure, but can also be found in certain foods and supplements.
Research is published in THE Lancet psychiatry.
The work of Professor McGrath is funded by the Danish National Research Foundation, the Queensland Center for Mental Health Research and the University of Queensland.
Funding: The Ipsych project is funded by the Lundbeck Foundation.
About this vitamin D and TSA research news
Author: UQ communications
Source: University of Queensland
Contact: UQ Communications – University of Queensland
Picture: The image is credited with Neuroscience News
Original search: Closed access.
“Convergent evidence connecting the status of vitamin D neonatal and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders: a case study of Danish cases” by John McGrath et al. Lancet psychiatry
Abstract
Converging evidence connecting the status of vitamin D neonatal and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders: a case study of Danish cases
Background
There is growing evidence connecting a vitamin D neonatal deficiency to an increased risk of schizophrenia, ADHD and autistic spectrum (TSA) disorder. The aim of this study was to examine the association between two vitamin D biomarkers (25 hydroxyvitamin D (25 (OH) D) and the vitamin D link (DBP), and their related genetic correlates) and the risk of six mental disorders.
Methods
We used a case cohort sample based on the population of all people born in Denmark between 1981 and 2005. Using Danish health registers with a follow -up of December 31, 2012, we identified individuals diagnosed with a major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, ASD and mental anorexia on the basis of criteria ICD-10.
In addition, a random subocohort of the general population has been selected. Based on neonatal dried blood stains, we measured concentrations of 25 (OH) D and DBP. Our main analyzes were based on risk ratios (HR) with 95% IC and absolute risks for the six mental disorders depending on the measured concentrations of 25 (OH) D and DBP.
As secondary analysis, we have examined the association between genetic predictors of 25 (OH) D and DBP, and the six mental disorders, and Mendelian randomization analyzes based on summary statistics published for 25 (OH) D, DBP and the six mental disorders. People with lived experience have contributed to the development of the guidance hypothesis.
Results
We used the total population of the Ipsych2012 design (n = 88,764), which included individuals who developed the six mental disorders, a major depressive disorder (n = 24,240), a bipolar disorder (n = 1928), a schizophrenia (n = 3540), Adhd (n = 18,726), ASD (n = 16 146) (n) sampled subcohort (n = 30,000).
Among those who met a range of inclusion criteria (for example, measured 25 (OH) D, DBP or genotype, and mainly European ancestry), we measured 25 (OH) D or DBP in 71,793 individuals (38,118 (53.1%) men and 33,675 (46 · 9%) women); 65,952 had 25 (OH) D and 66,797 DBP measurements.
Significant opposite relations were found between 25 (OH) D and schizophrenia (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.78–0.86), ASD (HR 0 · 93, 95% 0 · 90–0 · 96) and ADHD (HR 0 · 89, 95% CI 0 · 86–0 · 92). A significant opposite relationship was found between DBP and schizophrenia (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0 · 80–0.88).
Based on polygenic risk scores, higher concentrations of 25 (OH) D (adjusted for DBP) were significantly associated with a reduced risk of TSA and schizophrenia. Analyzes based on Mendelian randomization provided support for a causal association between the lower concentrations of 25 (OH) D and DBP and an increased risk of ADHD.
Interpretation
Convergent evidence reveals that the status of vitamin D neonatal is associated with an altered risk of mental disorders. Our study supports the hypothesis that the optimization of neonatal vitamin D status could reduce the incidence of a range of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Funding
The Danish National Research Foundation.
