Food and Behaviour Research

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Vitamin D, effects on brain development, adult brain function and the links between low levels of vitamin D and neuropsychiatric disease

Eyles DW, Burne TH, McGrath JJ. (2012) Front Neuroendocrinol.  Jul 11. [Epub ahead of print] 

Web URL: View this and related abstracts via PubMed here

Abstract:

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.