Exploring the relationship between vitamin D and mania: correlations between serum vitamin D levels and disease activity

Abstract

Background: Several studies suggest an association between hypovitaminosis D and mood disorders including major depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. On the other hand, there is not enough study about acute manic episode and hypovitaminosis D. This data insufficient zone led us to study on whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with acute manic episode and has an impact on disease activity

Methods: Thirty-one patients with bipolar disorder in remission, 26 patients with acute manic episode and 40 healthy controls with no major psychopathology were recruited in this study. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and the Clinical Global Impression – Severety scale (CGI-S) were used to evaluate disease activity. Total vitamin D (D2 + D3) values were measured.

Results: Patients in acute manic episode had significantly lower (p = .002) vitamin D serum concentrations than healthy controls (respectively 15.16 ± 7.48 and 22.31 ± 8.8) but remission group’s serum concentrations (18.40 ± 7.30) did not differ significantly from healthy controls or acute manic episode patients (p > .05). We observed negative and moderate correlations between vitamin D levels and YMRS scores (r: −0.641, p < .001), vitamin D levels and CGI scores (r: −0.559, p= .003).

Conclusions: Our results contribute to the idea that vitamin D deficiency and acute manic episode may have interactions with many pathways. Future trials may investigate this association with longer follow up. We recommend that serum vitamin D levels should be measured in patients with bipolar disorder especially in long term care.

Keywords:

• Bipolar disorder
• acute manic episode
• vitamin D
• vitamin D deficiency
• 25-OH vitamin D

Acknowledgements

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not for-profit sectors. We thank Emine Torunlar, who assisted with the preparation and proof-reading of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.