Differences of Serum Vitamin D Level with Antipsychotic Treatment in Schizophrenic Male Patients Between Batak and Malay

BackgroundVitamin D levels with schizophrenia is lower than the control due to lifestyle and physical health factors such as smoking, inactivity, and social withdrawal including decreases of sunlight exposure. Asia has the lowest average of vitamin D serum levels and Europe with lighter colored skin has higher serum levels of vitamin D. The Indonesian people were known as a nation that has a diversity of ethnic groups that exist in many areas. Each tribe has differences in living habits. Ethnic diversity, culture, religion, customs, geographical location, this is reflected in our daily lives that will affect the levels of vitamin D in patients with schizophrenic. Aims: To determine the differences of serum vitamin D levels with antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenic male patients between Batak and Malay. Methods: This study was an analytical study to recruited 60 subjects of schizophrenic male patient (30 Bataknese and 30 Malayan), aged between 15 to 55 years old, period at MayNov 2016, the acute phase with no agitation, treatment with riperidone 4 mg. Statistical analysis was using Mann Whitney U test. Blood sample for vitamin D serum was using ELFA method. Results: The vitamin D serum levels with antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenic patient were lower in Bataknese ethnic group than Malayan ethnic group, reaching statistically (22.9±3.33 ng/ml) vs (27.9±4.19 ng/ml) p<0.001. Conclusion: There are found significant differences of serum vitamin D levels with antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenic patient between Batak and Malay. Key-wordsSchizophrenia, Serum vitamin D, Ethnicity, Antipsychotic Treatment INTRODUCTION Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder, characterized by symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, confused thinking, and disorganized speech. [1] In a systematic review on 188 studies from 46 countries, the median prevalence of schizophrenia ranged from 4 to 7 per 1000 persons, depending on the type of prevalence. Despite low prevalence of schizophrenia, it is one of the great contributors to global burden of disease. These ecological findings might simply the role of vitamin D in the etiology of schizophrenia because cutaneous production of vitamin D from sun exposure is less efficient at high latitudes, during winter, and in dark-skinned persons. [2] The serum vitamin D level is determined by skin synthesis through sun exposure and/or dietary intake. [3] Access this article online Quick Response Code Website: