Bipolar Disorder in Youth is Associated with Increased Low Molecular Weight Fraction of Vitamin D Binding Protein

In recent years, the United States adolescent population has seen an epidemic increase in major mood disorders (MMD), such as bipolar disorder (BP) and major depressive disorder (MDD). MMD continues to be one of the most under-diagnosed mental health problems in adolescents. The dependence of MMD on genetic and dietary factors, as well as inflammation, impedes the identification of biomarkers for sensitive diagnostics and therapies. Recent studies in MMD patients identified deregulated inflammation, mediated in concert by immunomodulatory vitamin D as well as cytokine monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) regulated by a transcriptional regulator nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). The goal of our study was to test association of these previously reported factors with MMD in a mixed cohort of adolescent patients (age range 10–17, age mean 13.71 ±1.86) with different MMD (MDD: n=12, BP n=11) compared to healthy (n=13). We also assessed the overall level of inflammation in these subject...