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 .
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Status Enhances the Prevention of Cognitive Decline by B Vitamins in Mild Cognitive Impairment
A r and omized trial ( VITACOG ) in people with mild cognitive impairment ( MCI ) found that B vitamin treatment to lower homocysteine slowed the rate of cognitive and clinical decline . We have used data from this trial to see whether baseline omega-3 fatty acid status interacts with the effects of B vitamin treatment . 266 participants with MCI aged ≥70 years were r and omized to B vitamins ( folic acid , vitamins B6 and B12 ) or placebo for 2 years . Baseline cognitive test performance , clinical dementia rating ( CDR ) scale , and plasma concentrations of total homocysteine , total docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids ( omega-3 fatty acids ) were measured . Final scores for verbal delayed recall , global cognition , and CDR sum-of-boxes were better in the B vitamin-treated group according to increasing baseline concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids , whereas scores in the placebo group were similar across these concentrations . Among those with good omega-3 status , 33 % of those on B vitamin treatment had global CDR scores > 0 compared with 59 % among those on placebo . For all three outcome measures , higher concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid alone significantly enhanced the cognitive effects of B vitamins , while eicosapentaenoic acid appeared less effective . When omega-3 fatty acid concentrations are low , B vitamin treatment has no effect on cognitive decline in MCI , but when omega-3 levels are in the upper normal range , B vitamins interact to slow cognitive decline . A clinical trial of B vitamins combined with omega-3 fatty acids is needed to see whether it is possible to slow the conversion from MCI to AD
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 .