A cross-sectional study of vitamin D deficiency among immigrants and norwegians with psychosis compared to the general population.

J Clin Psychiatry. 2010 Apr 6. Epub ahead of print
Berg AO, Melle I, Torjesen PA, Lien L, Hauff E, Andreassen OA.
Cand Psychol, Thematically Organized Psychosis study group, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, Oslo University Hospital, Building 49, Kirkeveien 166, N-0407 Oslo, Norway. akbvanreedtdortland at lumc.nl.

OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D deficiency is common among immigrants, who, as a group, have heightened risk of psychosis. This study aimed to determine vitamin D levels among immigrants and Norwegians with psychosis compared to the general population and their association to clinical characteristics.
METHOD: This study compared vitamin D levels between immigrants and Norwegians within and between samples of patients with psychosis from a catchment area-based cross-sectional study (2002-2007) with a sample from a population-based health study from the same catchment area (2000-2001). The psychosis sample included patients with a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders diagnosis of psychotic disorder (67 immigrants, 66 Norwegians). The reference sample consisted of 1,046 subjects (177 immigrants, 869 Norwegians). Serum levels of vitamin D were measured by radioimmunoassay, and results were presented as 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.
RESULTS: Over 80% (n = 55) of immigrant patients with psychosis had insufficient/deficient serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (< 50 nmol/L). Immigrants had higher rates of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency than Norwegians (P < .001).
Norwegians with psychosis had lower serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D than Norwegians in the reference sample from the general public (P < .001). 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels correlated with certain negative/depressive symptoms among patients with psychosis.
CONCLUSIONS: An alarmingly high percentage of immigrants and Norwegians with psychotic disorders have 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency. This has important clinical implications as it suggests possible beneficial effects of vitamin D medication/heliotherapy within this group. © Copyright 2010 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc. PMID: 20441728
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