There were no overall effects from antioxidant vitamins , inositol or dietary minerals on psychiatric symptoms .
There is preliminary evidence that certain vitamin and mineral supplements may reduce psychiatric symptoms in some people with schizophrenia .
BACKGROUND When used as an adjunctive with antipsychotics , certain vitamins and minerals may be effective for improving symptomatic outcomes of schizophrenia , by restoring nutritional deficits , reducing oxidative stress , or modulating neurological pathways .
Supplementation of vitamin C with atypical antipsychotics reduces oxidative stress and improves the outcome of schizophrenia
Rationale Several investigators implicated role of free radical-mediated pathology in schizophrenia . No study has ever examined the effect of vitamin C with atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia . Objective The aim of this study was to examine the effect of oral vitamin C with atypical antipsychotics on serum malondialdehyde ( MDA ) , plasma ascorbic acid levels , and brief psychiatric rating scale ( BPRS ) score in schizophrenic patients . Method Forty schizophrenic patients participated in a prospect i ve , double-blind , placebo-controlled , noncrossover , 8-week study . The patients with schizophrenia were divided r and omly into placebo and vitamin C group of 20 each . Serum MDA and plasma ascorbic acid were estimated by methods of Nischal and Aye , respectively . Result Increased serum MDA and decreased plasma ascorbic acid levels were found in schizophrenic patients . These levels were reversed significantly after treatment with vitamin C along with atypical antipsychotics compared to placebo with atypical antipsychotics .  BPRS change scores at 8 weeks improved statistically significant with vitamin C as compared to placebo . Conclusion Oral supplementation of vitamin C with atypical antipsychotic reverses ascorbic acid levels , reduces oxidative stress , and improves BPRS score , hence both the drugs in combination can be used in the treatment of schizophrenia
There were no overall effects from antioxidant vitamins , inositol or dietary minerals on psychiatric symptoms .
There is preliminary evidence that certain vitamin and mineral supplements may reduce psychiatric symptoms in some people with schizophrenia .
BACKGROUND When used as an adjunctive with antipsychotics , certain vitamins and minerals may be effective for improving symptomatic outcomes of schizophrenia , by restoring nutritional deficits , reducing oxidative stress , or modulating neurological pathways .