• Supporting Scientific Evidence
• Helpful Actions

The researchers from the Queensland Centre for Schizophrenia Research in Australia suggest that regular or irregular vitamin D supplementation during the first year of life is associated with a reduced risk of schizophrenia in males. For females, there appears to be no apparent association. In the research study that was recently published on this it was found that "at least 2000 IU of vitamin D was associated with a reduced risk of schizophrenia compared to those on lower doses"

Action: For reduced risk of schizophrenia, a mother may want to make sure that her baby (especially the male babies) get at least 2,000 IUs of vitamin D on a regular basis during the first year of life. For children and adults, Vitamin D can be bought as a dietary supplement, or is often included in store-bought milk and orange juice (it will say so on the carton). Sunlight exposure also helps the body to make vitamin D. However, please note that wearing sunscreen does NOT lead to Vitamin D deficiency - it only reduces the very real risk for skin cancer. At present, 90% of skin cancers are caused by too much unprotected sun exposure. So by all means, catch some rays, but don't forget the sunblock!

Supporting Research (a sample):

• Vitamin D in boys to avoid schizophrenia in men - (News)
• Transient prenatal vitamin D deficiency is associated with subtle alterations in learning and memory functions in adult rats (Research)
• Vitamin D supplementation during the first year of life and risk of schizophrenia: a Finnish birth cohort study (Research)
• Schizophrenia, Vitamin D, and Brain Development (Research)