Abstract
BackgroundHigher serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), an indicator of vitamin D synthesis and intake, have been associated with better mental health and cognitive function. Concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (the active vitamin D3 metabolite) have been associated with openness and extrovert behaviour, but 25(OH)D concentrations have not been associated with behavioural problems in humans.MethodsWe investigated the prospective association between the different forms of 25(OH)D - 25(OH)D3 and 25(OH)D2– and childhood behavioural problems in Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Serum 25(OH)D3 and 25(OH)D2 concentrations were assessed at mean age 9.9 years. Incident behavioural problems were assessed with Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity-inattention problems, peer relationship problems and pro-social behaviour subscales and total difficulties score) at mean age 11.7. Sample sizes varied between 2413-2666 depending on the outcome.ResultsHigher 25(OH)D3 concentrations were weakly associated with lower risk of prosocial problems (fully adjusted odds ratio: OR (95% confidence interval: CI) 0.85 (0.74, 0.98)). Serum 25(OH)D3 or 25(OH)D2 concentrations were not associated with other subscales of SDQ or total difficulties score after adjusting for concfounders and other measured analytes related to vitamin D.ConclusionsOur findings do not support the hypothesis that 25-hydroxyvitamin D status in childhood has important influences on behavioural traits in humans.
Highlights
Circulatory 25(OH)D consists of 25(OH)D3 and 25(OH)D2. 25(OH)D3 and 25(OH)D2 are converted to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and D2, the steroid hormones that mediate the biological actions of vitamin D
Confounders We considered ethnicity, head of household occupational social class, maternal and paternal education, family history of depression or schizophrenia, exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB), body mass index (BMI) and cognitive function to be important confounders because of their known associations with 25(OH)D3 concentrations and behavioural problems
Higher BMI was associated with lower concentrations of 25(OH)D3 and 25(OH)D2 and higher concentrations of parathyroid hormone (PTH)
Summary
Higher serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), an indicator of dietary intake and cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D [1], have been associated with healthier cognitive and mental health phenotypes, including better cognitive function [2,3,4,5,6,7], and reduced risk of schizophrenia [8,9] and depression [10,11,12], albeit with some inconsistencies between studies [13,14,15]. 25(OH)D3 and 25(OH)D2 are converted to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and D2, the steroid hormones that mediate the biological actions of vitamin D. Higher serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), an indicator of vitamin D synthesis and intake, have been associated with better mental health and cognitive function. Concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (the active vitamin D3 metabolite) have been associated with openness and extrovert behaviour, but 25(OH)D concentrations have not been associated with behavioural problems in humans
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