Water-soluble vitamin insufficiency, deficiency and supplementation in children and adolescents with a psychiatric disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Nutrition is fundamental for brain development, but relatively little is known about water-soluble vitamin (WSV) levels and the effect of supplementation on psychiatry symptoms in children and adolescents (CAD) with psychiatric disorders. Our team systematically reviewed all studies concerning WSV abnormalities or supplementation in CAD with any psychiatric disorder. We searched for original studies published between 1990 and 15/05/2020 which were not based on retrospective chart review and which included WSV blood level measurements or investigated the effect of WSV supplementation on psychiatric symptoms in psychiatric patients aged 18 or under. Forty-two articles were included, 69% of which (N = 29) examined Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), with most of these assessing folate or vitamin B-12 supplementation (N = 22, 75.9% of ASD studies). Meta-analyses showed significantly lower vitamin B-12 levels in ASD and ADHD patients vs. healthy controls (HC), while folate levels were higher in ADHD patients vs. HC. Most of the studies (9/10, 90%) showed a decrease in symptoms as measured by clinical scales after supplementation. There was significant heterogeneity between the studies, however many found different types of vitamin abnormalities in CAD with psychiatric disorders.

Automated summary

Nutrition is crucial for brain development, and this study investigates the levels of water-soluble vitamins (WSV) and the effects of supplementation on psychiatric symptoms in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders. The results show that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have lower levels of vitamin B-12 and higher levels of folate. Supplementation with WSV leads to a decrease in symptoms as measured by clinical scales.