Psychiatric in-patients "vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency'
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.
(Media-Newswire.com) - 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.
For further information, please contact Liz Fox or Deborah Hart in the Communications Department. Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 298 or 127 E-mail: efox@rcpsych.ac.uk or dhart@rcpsych.ac.uk
References: Tiangga E, Gowda A and Dent JA ( 2008 ) Vitamin D deficiency in psychiatric in-patients and treatment with daily supplements on calcium and ergocalciferol, Psychiatric Bulletin, 32: 390-393
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