Psychiatric in-patients are extremely vulnerable to vitamin D
deficiency, according to
a study
published in the October issue of the
Psychiatric
Bulletin.
Such deficiency could be putting them at risk
of serious health problems, including osteoporosis and muscle pain
or weakness. There is also evidence to suggest it could increase
their risk of developing other conditions including some types of
cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular
disease.
Now researchers are calling for all
psychiatric in-patients to be routinely screened for vitamin D
deficiency.
The small-scale study, involving 17 male
patients in a low secure psychiatric service, was carried out by
researchers from St Bernard’s Hospital in Middlesex.
Blood tests revealed that none of the patients
had vitamin D sufficiency. Two individuals had borderline
deficiency and the other 15 had a deficiency. Seven of the patients
had such low vitamin D levels that they were actually below the
level for which the test can provide an accurate result.
Of the 17 in-patients in the study, 10 were
African or African-Caribbean, two were of mixed ethnicity, one was
Vietnamese and four were White European. Deficiency was most
strongly associated with Black and minority ethnic background, with
all of these patients having deficiency. Of the four White European
in-patients, two had deficiency and two had borderline
deficiency.
Twelve of the patients received calcium and
ergocalciferol tables to treat their deficiency, and improvements
were noted in all but one.
The researchers observe that psychiatric
in-patients may be particularly vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency
because of a lack of expose to sunlight, poor dietary habits, poor
physical health, the use of certain drugs, and an
overrepresentation of ethnic groups known to be at greater
risk.
Based on the study’s findings, they believe
all psychiatric in-patients should be routinely monitored for
vitamin D deficiency. Greater attention should also be given
adequate exposure to sunlight and attention to diet to ensure that
they receive their recommended daily allowance of vitamins and
minerals.