Alexithymia is associated with low level of vitamin D in young healthy adults

Abstract

Objective

Vitamin D plays an important role in brain development and functioning. Low levels of vitamin D have been described in several psychiatric and neurologic conditions including autism spectrum disorder. Alexithymia that shows high comorbidity with autism is also present in the general population as well as hypovitaminosis D.

Methods

Here we assessed the relation between alexithymia as measured by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 and vitamin D level in healthy young adults.

Results

We found an inverse correlation between the levels of alexithymia and vitamin D.

Discussion

These data suggest the association between disturbed emotional processing and low levels of vitamin D to be present in young healthy subjects.

Keywords:

• Alexithymia
• Vitamin D
• Hypovitaminosis D
• Emotional processing

Acknowledgements

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. This work was supported by Grants SROP-4.2.1.B-10/2/KONV-2010-0002, SROP-4.2.2/A-11/1/KONV-2012-0017 and PTE ÁOK-KA-2013/34039. NK was supported by a grant of OTKA-PD103964.