A new study argues that a vitamin D deficiency during childhood can result in several behavior issues during teenage years, including aggressive attitudes, mood swings, and higher depression and anxiety risks. It is mentioned that people children with low levels of vitamin D tend to have higher scores in tests which seek to measure behavior issues during adolescence.
The risk of developing externalizing behavior problems was almost double, leading to aggressive tendencies and anarchist behavior as they actively sought to break the rules, according to reports offered by their parents and in comparison with children who enjoyed higher vitamin levels.
Low levels of the protein which is responsible for distributing vitamin D throughout the body were also linked to self-reported aggressive attitudes, and parental, and household factors did not influence symptoms related to anxiety and depression.
Previous papers have presented a link between vitamin D deficiency and select mental health issues encountered during adulthood, among which we can count depression and schizophrenia.
Vitamin D Deficiency During Childhood Might Trigger Health Issues Later In Life
Few studies focused on the effects of Vitamin D deficiency and adolescence, the crucial stage during which many behavior problems can surface and begin their transition towards a severe condition.
During the study, 3,202 children with an age range between five to twelve years participated were selected randomly from primary public schools. Researchers collected information about the daily habits of the participant, the educational level of their parents, general health data, and details about the household. Blood samples were also taken.
After six years had passed the team conducted a series of follow-up interviews among a select group of participants, approximately 33% of the original ones. The participants and their parent s were asked to fill questionnaires, which focused on their behavior.
The study may have been limited by some factors, including the fact that it didn’t rely on baseline behavior measures, but it was well-received by the scientific community. Further research will begin soon, and the paper was published in a scientific journal.
