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 .
Minocycline benefits negative symptoms in early schizophrenia: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients on standard treatment
The onset and early course of schizophrenia is associated with subtle loss of grey matter which may be responsible for the evolution and persistence of symptoms such as apathy , emotional blunting , and social withdrawal . Such ‘ negative ’ symptoms are unaffected by current antipsychotic therapies . There is evidence that the antibiotic minocycline has neuroprotective properties . We investigated whether the addition of minocycline to treatment as usual ( TAU ) for 1 year in early psychosis would reduce negative symptoms compared with placebo . In total , 144 participants within 5 years of first onset in Brazil and Pakistan were r and omised to receive TAU plus placebo or minocycline .  The primary outcome measures were the negative and positive syndrome ratings using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale .  Some 94 patients completed the trial . The mean improvement in negative symptoms for the minocycline group was 9.2 and in the placebo group 4.7 , an adjusted difference of 3.53 ( s.e . 1.01 ) 95 % CI : 1.55 , 5.51 ; p < 0.001 in the intention-to-treat population . The effect was present in both countries . The addition of minocycline to TAU early in the course of schizophrenia predominantly improves negative symptoms . Whether this is mediated by neuroprotective , anti-inflammatory or others actions is under investigation
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 .