However , mechanistic studies found significant improvements in hippocampal neuronal health and brain glutathione .
CONCLUSION There is preliminary evidence that taurine improves outcomes in FEP , whereas effects of omega-3 and antioxidant vitamins/amino-acids are inconsistent ; perhaps mainly benefitting patients with high levels of oxidative stress .
AIM The effects of nutrient-based treatments , including adjunctive vitamin or antioxidant supplementation , have been explored extensively in long-term schizophrenia .
However , no systematic evaluation of trials in " first-episode psychosis " ( FEP ) has been conducted , despite the potential benefits of using these treatments during the early stages of illness .
Therefore , we aim ed to review all studies examining efficacy , tolerability and the biological mechanisms of action , of nutrient supplementation in FEP .
A randomized, controlled trial of omega-3 fatty acids plus an antioxidant for relapse prevention after antipsychotic discontinuation in first-episode schizophrenia
BACKGROUND While antipsychotics are effective in the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia they have safety and tolerability risks . We investigated whether a combination of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( ω-3 PUFAs ) and a metabolic antioxidant , alpha-lipoic acid ( α-LA ) , is effective in preventing relapse after antipsychotic discontinuation in subjects who were successfully treated for 2 - 3 years after a first-episode of schizophrenia , schizo-affective or schizophreniform disorder . METHODS In this r and omized , double-blind , placebo controlled study antipsychotic treatment was tapered and discontinued and participants received either ω-3 PUFAs ( eicosapentaenoic acid 2g/day and docosahexaenoic acid 1g/day)+α-LA 300 mg/day or placebo . Subjects were followed up for two years , or until relapse . RESULTS Recruitment was terminated prematurely due to the high relapse rates in both treatment groups as well as the severity of some of the relapse episodes . Of the 33 participants , 19/21(90 % ) r and omized to ω-3 PUFAs+α-LA  relapsed and one ( 5 % ) completed two years without relapse ( p=0.6 ) ; and 9/12 ( 75 % ) r and omized to placebo relapsed and none completed two years without relapse . Mean times to relapse were 39.8 ± 25.4 and 38.3 ± 26.6 weeks for the ω-3 PUFAs+α-LA and placebo groups , respectively ( p=0.9 ) . There were no significant differences between the groups in relapse symptom severity . CONCLUSIONS We found no evidence that ω-3 PUFAs+α-LA could be a suitable alternative to maintenance antipsychotic treatment in relapse prevention , in this small study . Antipsychotic discontinuation after a single episode of schizophrenia carries a very high risk of relapse , and treatment guidelines endorsing this practice should be revised
However , mechanistic studies found significant improvements in hippocampal neuronal health and brain glutathione .
CONCLUSION There is preliminary evidence that taurine improves outcomes in FEP , whereas effects of omega-3 and antioxidant vitamins/amino-acids are inconsistent ; perhaps mainly benefitting patients with high levels of oxidative stress .
AIM The effects of nutrient-based treatments , including adjunctive vitamin or antioxidant supplementation , have been explored extensively in long-term schizophrenia .
However , no systematic evaluation of trials in " first-episode psychosis " ( FEP ) has been conducted , despite the potential benefits of using these treatments during the early stages of illness .
Therefore , we aim ed to review all studies examining efficacy , tolerability and the biological mechanisms of action , of nutrient supplementation in FEP .