Vitamin D deficiency was found to be prevalent in psychiatric inpatients, particularly in Māori and inpatients with schizophrenia in this New Zealand-based study. Vitamin D status was assessed, by measuring 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 levels in venous blood, during late winter in Hamilton in 102 adult psychiatric inpatients. Mild deficiency (<50 nM) was detected in 74% of inpatients and severe deficiency (<25 nM) was detected in 19%. Māori (n=51) were significantly more likely to be deficient for vitamin D than Europeans (p=0.04). Inpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were also more likely to have vitamin D deficiency than those with mania or depression (p<0.001). The authors commented that vitamin D deficiency may be relevant to poor physical health outcomes and supported ‘proposals to provide vitamin D supplementation, particularly during the winter months.’
