Methadone cognition improved by 50,000 IU of vitamin D every 2 weeks – RCT May 2019

Exploring the Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Cognitive Functions and Mental Health Status in Subjects Under Methadone Maintenance Treatment.

J Addict Med. 2019 May 24. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000550.

Ghaderi A1, Rasouli-Azad M, Farhadi MH, Mirhosseini N, Motmaen M, Pishyareh E, Omidi A, Asemi Z.
Department of Addiction Studies, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran and Clinical Research Development Unit-Matini/Kargarnejad Hospital, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran (AG); University of Raparin, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (MR-A); Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran (M-HF); School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada (NM); Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Science, Kashan, Iran (MM); Occupational Therapy Department, Rehabilitation School, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran (EP); Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Science, Kashan, Iran (AO); Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran (ZA).

OBJECTIVES:
Vitamin D deficiency may be linked to several mental complications including cognitive deficits, depression, and anxiety in patients under methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). This study was designed to explore the effect of vitamin D supplementation on cognitive functions and mental health parameters in subjects under MMT.

METHODS:
This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out among 64 patients under MMT. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either 50,000 IU vitamin D supplements (n = 32) or placebo (n = 32) every 2 weeks for 24 weeks. Cognitive functions and mental health parameters were taken at baseline and posttreatment to evaluate relevant variables.

RESULTS:
After the 24-week intervention, compared with the placebo, serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels significantly increased in participants who received vitamin D supplements (β 14.50; 95% confidence interval CI, 13.17-15.83; P < 0.001). In addition, compared with the placebo, subjects who received vitamin D had a

• significant reduction in Iowa Gambling Task (β -6.25; 95% CI, -8.60 to -3.90; P < 0.001), and
• significant increases in Verbal Fluency Test (β 2.82; 95% CI, 0.78-4.86; P = 0.007),
  • Immediate Logic Memory (β 1. 32; 95% CI, 0.27-2.37; P = 0.01),
  • Reverse Digit Span (β 2.06; 95% CI, 1.18-2.94; P < 0.001) and
  • visual working memory (β 0.75; 95% CI, 0.33-1.16; P = 0.001). Also, vitamin D supplementation significantly improved
  • BDI (β -2.76; 95% CI, -3.97 to -1.55; P < 0.001) compared with the placebo.

When we applied Bonferroni correction, LM-Immediate (P = 0.07) became nonsignificant, and other mental health parameters did not alter.

CONCLUSIONS:
Overall, taking 50,000 IU vitamin D supplements every 2 weeks for 24 weeks by patients under MMT had beneficial effects on cognitive functions and some mental health parameters. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.