A retrospective chart review evaluating the association of psychological disorders and Vitamin D deficiency with celiac disease

BACKGROUND: Data show that deficiencies in Vitamin D have been linked to certain psychological disorders and celiac disease. This study was designed to evaluate the association of psychological comorbidities and Vitamin D deficiency with celiac disease. Additionally, any association of psychological comorbidities with gender and age at diagnosis with celiac disease was evaluated. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of a cohort of patients with celiac disease presenting for clinical care at a tertiary care referral hospital. Patient age, age at diagnosis of celiac disease, gender, and 25-OH Vitamin D levels were recorded. Self-reported history of any psychological and/or psychiatric disease were also recorded and analyzed. RESULTS : Fifty-one patients with celiac disease were included. Forty-seven percent reported a history of a psychological and/or psychiatric disease of which anxiety, depression, and mixed anxiety-depressive disorder were the most common. Age at diagnosis of celiac disease was significantly lower, by ∼10 years, in patients with a coexistent psychological comorbidity (P=0.008). Approximately 41% of patients reported Vitamin D deficiency, but their mean age was not significantly different from patients without a deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Celiac disease appears to be diagnosed earlier in patients with associated psychological comorbidity. There was no increased association of Vitamin D deficiency and psychological/psychiatric comorbidity in patients with celiac disease. Further research is needed to help us better understand this complex relationship.