The new study, published in Psychiatry Research, ​investigated whether vitamin B12, homocysteine folic acid and vitamin D play a role in the cause (aetiology) of childhood OCD.

Led by Erman Esnafoğlu from Ordu University, Turkey, the team noted that one carbon metabolism – which includes vitamin B12 and homocysteine – has been investigated in many psychiatric disorders, while vitamin D has also been considered to contribute in a variety of psychiatric disorders in recent years.

“To the best of our knowledge the role of one carbon mechanism and vitamin D deficiency in children and adolescents with OCD has not yet been investigated,” wrote​ the Turkish team. “For this reason we aimed to investigate serum vitamin B12, folic acid homocysteine and vitamin D levels in children and adolescents in this study.”​

Esnafoğlu and colleagues reported that lower levels of vitamin B12 and higher levels of homocysteine in were found in OCD patients – suggesting that one carbon metabolism plays a role in the onset of the condition.

Furthermore, the team found that low vitamin D levels were linked to OCD, and that vitamin D status in patients had a negative correlation with disease severity.

“This study has demonstrated that there is a significant decrease in vitamin B12 and vitamin D and a significant increase in homocysteine in children and adolescents with OCD,”​ said the team – noting that vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for development of OCD.

They warned that further research is now needed in order to test the potential benefits of vitamin B12, folic acid and vitamin D supplementation.

Study details​

The team recruited 52 children and adolescent OCD patients plus 30 healthy controls into the study.

All participants were tested for vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine and vitamin D levels and were evaluated with a sociodemographic form, state-trait anxiety inventory 1 and 2, Kovacs Depression Inventory and Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS).

The OCD group were found to have higher points on anxiety and depression scales, said the team – who suggested that obsessions in OCD patients can “lead to nearly constant fear, repulsion, anxiety and the need for repetition.”​

“The findings of this study demonstrated that vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels were significantly lower in patients compared to healthy controls, whereas homocysteine was higher in the patient group,”​ noted Esnafoğlu and colleagues.

Source: Psychiatry Research​

Volume 254, August 2017, Pages 232-237, doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.04.032​

“Vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine and vitamin D levels in children and adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder”​

Authors: Erman Esnafoğlu, et al​