Background: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) continues to be associated with schizophrenia,
but there is the dearth of information on the relationship between the severity of
schizophrenia and plasma levels of vitamin D. This study, therefore, determined the
plasma levels of vitamin D in different severity groups of schizophrenia.
Materials and methods: Plasma level of vitamin D was determined in 60 patients with
schizophrenia and 30 apparently healthy individuals who served as controls. Patients
with schizophrenia were classified into mildly ill, moderately ill, markedly ill, and severely
ill groups using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).
results: The mean level of vitamin D was significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia
compared with the controls. Similarly, there was a significant association between
VDD and schizophrenia. The mean plasma levels of vitamin D were not significantly
different when the mildly, moderately, markedly, and severely ill groups were compared
with one another and there was no significant correlation between vitamin D level and
PANSS scores. Furthermore, patients on atypical antipsychotics had an insignificantly
lower level of vitamin D compared with the patients on typical antipsychotics.
conclusion: It could be concluded from this study that patients with schizophrenia have
low plasma vitamin D level which does not appear to be associated with the severity
of schizophrenia and type of antipsychotics. Therefore, regular screening for vitamin D
status of patients with schizophrenia is suggested in order to allow for the institution of
appropriate clinical intervention when necessary.