Vitamin D, effects on brain development, adult brain function and the links between low levels of vitamin D and neuropsychiatric disease.
Increasingly vitamin D deficiency is being associated with a number of psychiatric conditions. In particular for disorders with a developmental basis, such as autistic spectrum disorder and schizophrenia the neurobiological plausibility of this association is strengthened by the preclinical data indicating vitamin D deficiency in early life affects neuronal differentiation, axonal connectivity, dopamine ontogeny and brain structure and function. More recently epidemiological associations have been made between low vitamin D and psychiatric disorders not typically associated with abnormalities in brain development such as depression and Alzheimer's disease. Once again the preclinical findings revealing that vitamin D can regulate catecholamine levels and protect against specific Alzheimer-like pathology increase the plausibility of this link. In this review we have attempted to integrate this clinical epidemiology with potential vitamin D-mediated basic mechanisms. Throughout the review we have highlighted areas where we think future research should focus.
Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia. eyles@uq.edu.au
Darryl W
DW
Eyles
Thomas H J
TH
Burne
John J
JJ
McGrath
D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*
D014807:Vitamin D