Vitamin D in schizophrenia, major depression and alcoholism

25-Hydroxyvitamin D-3, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3, calcium, phosphate and pa rathyreoidal hormone levels were assessed in 34 patients with schizophrenia (DSM-III-R, 44% female, mean age 38.9 +/- 2.1 years), 30 patients with alc ohol addiction (16% female, mean age 48.7 +/- 2.2 years), 25 patients with major depression (56% female, mean age 57.6 +/- years) and 31 healthy contr ols. Only 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 and 1,25-dihydroxvitamin D-3 levels were si gnificantly lower in all groups of psychiatric patients than in normal cont rols, but not phosphate, calcium and parathyreoidal hormone levels. Signifi cant differences in the vitamin D levels could not be found between the thr ee psychiatric groups. These findings do not support the idea that vitamin D is specifically involved in the pathophysiology of depression. The differ ence in patients as compared to the healthy controls might be related to a different social background resulting in differing habits e.g. of nutrition .