Vitamin C deficiency prevalent in hospitalised patients with psychiatric disorders

In a recent published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry shed light on the prevalence of mild vitamin C deficiency among psychiatric patients. The study, which aimed to identify the nutritional state of patients, revealed that 64% of the participants met the criteria for mild vitamin C deficiency. This deficiency, although often overlooked, has significant psychiatric implications, including symptoms such as apathy, fatigue, and low mood.

The research team examined the plasma vitamin C levels of 221 patients admitted to the psychiatric unit between January 2015 and March 2022. In addition to assessing vitamin C levels, the study analyzed various demographic, substance use, diagnostic, and micronutrient risk factors to identify potential correlations. The risk factors taken into account included age, sex, race, housing status, substance use (tobacco and alcohol), diagnostic categories (depressive, bipolar, psychotic, anxiety, substance use, catatonia, neurocognitive, autism spectrum), and levels of folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin D.

Interestingly, while demographic and diagnostic-based risk factors did not reveal significant associations with vitamin C deficiency, the study found a strong link between vitamin C levels and folate and vitamin D levels. Both folate and vitamin D were identified as robust predictors of vitamin C deficiency. Even when folate and vitamin D levels were considered to be sufficient, the prevalence of predicted deficiency remained high, at approximately 50%-55%.

These findings highlight the urgent need to address the issue of mild vitamin C deficiency in the inpatient psychiatric setting. Despite efforts to eradicate complete vitamin C deficiency, mild deficiency remains common, particularly in certain populations. The study's results emphasize the importance of considering nutritional factors in the overall well-being and treatment of psychiatric patients.

It is crucial for healthcare providers, especially those working in psychiatric settings, to be aware of the high prevalence of vitamin C deficiency and its potential impact on patient outcomes. Further research and interventions should be conducted to raise awareness, monitor vitamin C levels, and implement appropriate dietary and supplemental measures to ensure patients' nutritional needs are met.

Source:

Bari, B. A., Ivkovic, A., & Wininger, B. A. (1686715244). Mild vitamin C deficiency is common in the inpatient psychiatric setting. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 84(4), 47467. https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.22m14616