Vitamins and Supplements for Schizophrenia: 6 Types That Could Be Beneficial
Omega-3s and some B vitamin supplements may be beneficial if you have this chronic psychiatric condition, research suggests.
Everyone needs vitamins and minerals for good health. Most come from food, but plenty of people add more to their diet with supplements. If you have schizophrenia, you may have heard that taking vitamins and supplements alongside standard treatments could not only boost your energy and offer better health overall, but may help improve schizophrenia symptoms, too.
It’s important to note that vitamins and supplements are not a replacement for antipsychotic medications in a schizophrenia treatment plan. “While supplements can help with schizophrenia, they are not treatment, and some supplements — when taken without caution — can even exacerbate or worsen symptoms,” says Sanam Hafeez, PsyD, a neuropsychologist based in New York City.
If you consistently follow your treatment plan and lead a healthy lifestyle, including exercising regularly and eating a nutritious diet, your healthcare provider may be open to incorporating certain vitamins and supplements into your routine, says Christina Ni, MD, a psychiatrist based in Calabasas, California.
The safest way to take vitamins and supplements if you have schizophrenia is to discuss it with your provider first, says Dr. Ni. They can help you decide the right dose and identify any side effects from the supplements, Ni adds.
When looking for supplements, it’s important to choose options made by reputable brands who use third-party safety testing. That’s because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate supplements in the same way it regulates medications. While more studies are needed to confirm their benefits, research suggests these six options may be beneficial for people with schizophrenia.
Omega-3 fatty acid supplements typically come in the form of fish oil, but this nutrient can also be found naturally in foods like fish and flaxseed. These fats are important components of your body’s cells and are especially vital for the eyes, brain, and some reproductive cells.
Because of their effect on brain cells, it’s possible that omega-3 supplements could improve schizophrenia symptoms, but research findings have been mixed.
“This supplement is fairly safe,” says Dr. Hafeez, adding that early studies have shown positive effects on schizophrenia symptoms. “One review of eight studies found that taking omega-3 fatty acids led to a drop of about 25 percent in positive symptoms (such as hallucinations and delusions) as well as negative symptoms like withdrawal from others and a flat affect (showing no emotions),” says Hafeez.
Another review of 26 clinical studies concluded that omega-3s significantly improved symptoms, especially in the early stages of schizophrenia.
Some research, however, has found the opposite. For example, one study of 135 participants with schizophrenia who were at high risk for psychosis found omega-3s did no better than placebo supplements in preventing psychosis symptoms.
More research is needed to confirm the potential benefits of omega-3 supplements for schizophrenia.
Among other benefits, zinc boosts your immune system and helps your body heal wounds. “Low levels of zinc have shown a connection to more severe symptoms of schizophrenia,” says Ni. Some experts believe supplementation can prevent these symptoms.
One small study of 44 people found zinc supplements led to fewer symptoms after particpants took them for two weeks, and symptoms kept improving the longer they took them. But more research is needed to fully determine zinc’s effects on schizophrenia symptoms.
There are eight different B vitamins. They’re found naturally in foods like meat, dairy, leafy green vegetables, and beans. This group of vitamins does a lot for the body, including building neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain). Vitamins B6, B9, and B12 in particular support the proper function of neurotransmitters, adds Ni.
“These supplements seem most helpful [for schizophrenia] when people start them early in their illness,” says Hafeez.
One study of 200 people with schizophrenia found that people who took vitamin B6 had fewer symptoms. Another study of 50 men with schizophrenia found that low vitamin B12 levels may be associated with more severe psychosis symptoms, and the study authors suggested supplementation could help improve symptoms.
Other studies, however, have had conflicting results. For example, one systematic review of the effects of vitamin B9 (also known as folate) on various mental health conditions found that folate had no effect on schizophrenia symptoms. More research is still needed to determine whether B vitamin supplements could help improve schizophrenia symptoms.
Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, which helps protect your body’s cells from damage. It also helps protect you from infection and illness by strengthening your immune system.
When it comes to schizophrenia, vitamin E could have some benefits for certain antipsychotic side effects. “Taking vitamin E can also help prevent tardive dyskinesia, which is a common side effect of older antipsychotic medications,” says Hafeez. As an antioxidant, vitamin E can block damage to brain cells, which may prevent tardive dyskinesia, although more studies are needed to prove this.
While some individual case reports support the use of vitamin E for preventing tardive dyskinesia, other research hasn't yet been able to confirm this association. “Vitamin E is also associated with a high risk of bleeding in high doses — a perfect example of why it is important to be careful and discuss with your doctor before you start any supplements,” says Hafeez.
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a supplement made from one of your body’s natural amino acids, which help build proteins throughout the body. When you take NAC, your body turns it into an antioxidant that protects your cells.
“NAC has antioxidant properties that may help reduce the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as apathy and emotional blunting,” says Ni.
As with other supplements, research is conflicting on how well NAC improves symptoms. One review found NAC reduced symptoms after two weeks of use, but became less effective over time. A study of 84 people taking clozapine found NAC taken over a year didn’t improve symptoms. More research is needed to confirm the effects of NAC on schizophrenia symptoms.
Magnesium does a lot for different parts of the body, including nerves, muscles, blood sugar, and blood pressure. It can also ease anxiety and stress, which are common in people with schizophrenia, says Ni.
Researchers suggest increasing magnesium levels may improve symptoms of schizophrenia. But many studies thus far have been small, and more research is still needed to assess the effects of magnesium supplementation on schizophrenia symptoms.
Vitamins and supplements alongside prescribed medications may support well-being in schizophrenia, but it’s important to speak with a healthcare provider before trying them.
Supplements that may improve symptoms of schizophrenia and its treatment include omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, vitamin E, zinc, magnesium, and N-acetylcysteine.
If you’d like to add any vitamins or supplements to your treatment plan, let your provider know. They can guide you to the ones to try and the optimal dosage.
