Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41880071›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of bipolar disorders2026

Vitamin D and calcium metabolism in bipolar disorder: a scoping review of contradictory evidence.

Amirzhan Kulmagambetov, Adelina Tmava-Berisha, Frederike T Fellendorf, Melanie Lenger, Tatjana Stross, Marko Stijic, Eva Fleischmann, Julia Ilić, Alexander Finner, Anna Ramirez-Obermayer and 12 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of bipolar disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

22 authors.

Amirzhan KulmagambetovClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Adelina Tmava-BerishaClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. adelina.tmava@medunigraz.at.
Frederike T FellendorfClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Melanie LengerClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Tatjana StrossClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Marko StijicClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Eva FleischmannClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Julia IlićClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Alexander FinnerClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Anna Ramirez-ObermayerClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Johanna GeorgiClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Alexander MagetClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Amrei LässerClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Claudia MittmannsgruberClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Stefan SmolleClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Alfred HäusslClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Jonas SchullerClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Dino HasicClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Susanne BengesserClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Robert QueissnerClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Nina DalknerClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Eva Z ReininghausClinical Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis scoping review synthesized evidence on vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and serum calcium in bipolar disorder (BD) to evaluate their potential clinical utility.

methodsA systematic PubMed search identified original studies examining calcium metabolism biomarkers (vitamin D, PTH, serum calcium) exclusively in BD populations. Findings were synthesized narratively due to substantial methodological heterogeneity.

resultsFourteen studies met inclusion criteria, with small sample sizes (median n = 55) and predominantly cross-sectional designs. Vitamin D comparisons between BD patients and controls yielded contradictory results: three studies reported significantly lower levels in BD patients, two found significantly higher levels, and three found no differences. Vitamin D deficiency definitions varied widely (< 25 to < 50 nmol/L), precluding meaningful comparisons. Four cognition studies showed inconsistent associations with vitamin D, with negative correlations, age-dependent effects, or no associations reported. Two small vitamin D supplementation studies in bipolar spectrum disorders yielded contradictory results in distinct populations, with one in youth and the other in adults. Data on PTH and calcium were sparse and inconsistent. LIMITATIONS: Study limitations included a single database search, substantial study heterogeneity, and inadequate control for confounders, including seasonal variation.

conclusionsEvidence on calcium metabolism biomarkers in BD is contradictory and methodologically limited. Fundamental inconsistencies in vitamin D status between BD patients and controls, combined with conflicting supplementation data, preclude clinical recommendations. Routine vitamin D screening specifically for BD management cannot be supported. Large-scale, standardized studies are needed before clinical application.

Indexed as

Bipolar disorderCalciumParathyroid hormoneVitamin D

Identifiers

PMID41880071
PMCPMC13136459

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.