Study: Heightened Risk Of Vitamin D Deficiency For Psychiatric In-Patients

Findings of a new study suggest that psychiatric in-patients are extremely vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency. Published in the October issue of the Psychiatric Bulletin, the study involved 17 male patients in a low-security psychiatric service. All of the patients were blood-tested; two had borderline deficiency and the rest were deficient.

The researchers—who are now calling for routine vitamin D deficiency screening for all psychiatric in-patients—say that in-patients may be particularly vulnerable to deficiency due to a lack of sunlight exposure, poor dietary habits, poor physical health, the use of certain drugs and an overrepresentation of ethnic groups known to be at greater risk for deficiency.

Source: MedicalNewsToday.com