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Vitamin Deficiencies and Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Brain Degeneration and Dementia in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Abstract

Deficiencies of vitamins are associated with psychiatric illnesses either by being the primary cause or an exacerbating factor. Psychiatric symptoms could also lead to poor nutrition. Vitamin deficiencies may play a role in compromising patient recovery. Vitamins are organic substances essential for several enzymatic functions. There are 13 known vitamins which are either fat soluble (4 vitamins i.e. KEDA) or water soluble (9 vitamins i.e. C, and the B group). For brain function, B-vitamins are essential in the maintenance of myelin, neuro-transmitter production and the methylation cycle. Fat-soluble vitamins are necessary in inflammatory regulation, regeneration of antioxidants and genetic modification. Vitamin deficiencies will, therefore, cause brain degeneration and will be associated with psychiatric symptoms. Few studies of vitamin deficiencies have been carried out in Sub-Saharan Africa. This chapter presents an overview of vitamins and their relation to neuropsychiatric disorders with the focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, 10681, Uganda

    Michael Ssonko MBChB, MMED Internal Medicine

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  1. Michael Ssonko MBChB, MMED Internal Medicine
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Correspondence to Michael Ssonko MBChB, MMED Internal Medicine .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda

    Seggane Musisi

  2. Dept. Anatomy & Cellular Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Stanley Jacobson

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Ssonko, M. (2015). Vitamin Deficiencies and Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Musisi, S., Jacobson, S. (eds) Brain Degeneration and Dementia in Sub-Saharan Africa. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2456-1_5

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