Abstract
BackgroundSubtle effects of vitamin D deficiency on behavior have been suggested. We investigated the association of vitamin D status with mental health and violence behaviors in a sample of Iranian adolescents.MethodsThis nationwide study was conducted in 2009–2010 in 1095 Iranian school students with mean age 14.7 ± 2.6 years. Items were adapted from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Psychiatric distress was considered as the self-reported anger, anxiety, poor quality sleep, confusion, sadness/depression, worry, and violence-related behaviors (physical fight, having bully, or getting bullied).ResultsForty percent had serum 25(OH)D values below 10 ng/mL (vitamin D deficient), and 39 % had levels 10-30 ng/mL (vitamin D insufficient). The prevalence of self-reported anger, anxiety, poor quality sleep, sadness/depression, and worry was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in vitamin D sufficient participants compared with their other counterparts. The odds of reporting anger, anxiety, poor quality sleep, and worry, increased approximately 1.5 to 1.8 times in vitamin D insufficient compared with normal children and adolescents (P < 0.05). Risk estimates indicated that vitamin D insufficient and deficient subjects had higher odds of reporting worry compared to normal vitamin D group [OR = 2.417 (95 % CI: 1.483-3.940) for vitamin D insufficient students, and OR = 2.209 (95 % CI: 1.351-3.611) for vitamin D deficient students] (P-trend = 0.001). Violence behaviors did not show any association with vitamin D status (P > 0.05).ConclusionSome psychiatric distress such as anger, anxiety, poor quality sleep, depression, and worry are associated with hypovitaminosis D in adolescents. The clinical significance of the current findings should be determined in future longitudinal studies.
Highlights
Mental disorders are one of the most common health problems worldwide
Logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the association of 25(OH) D status with psychiatric distress in three models: Model I, crude model; Model II, adjustment for age, sex, and living area; and Model III, adjustment for other potential confounders, including sleeping hours, socio-economic status, physical activity, breast feeding, type of complementary feeding, Body mass index (BMI), and type of milk used in infancy
Participants with different status of vitamin D were comparable in case of anthropometric measurements, duration of breast- feeding, type of milk used in infancy, birth weight, physical activity or sedentary behavior, and socio-economic status
Summary
Mental disorders are one of the most common health problems worldwide. About half of all mental disorders begin before the age of 14 [1]. Studies in various countries including Egypt, Nigeria, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka [3] have shown that rates of child and adolescent mental disorders are comparable to rates reported in developed countries [4]. As a developing country, is undergoing significant social, cultural, and economic changes, which affect its populations' mental health status. Few studies have been conducted to evaluate mental health status in children and adolescents in Iran. Subtle effects of vitamin D deficiency on behavior have been suggested. We investigated the association of vitamin D status with mental health and violence behaviors in a sample of Iranian adolescents
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