(Press-News.org) Previous studies have questioned whether gut microbe imbalances and vitamin D deficiency may be linked to schizophrenia. New research published in Neuropsychopharmacology Reports now indicates that taking probiotics plus vitamin D supplements may improve cognitive function in individuals with the disease.
For the study, 70 adults with schizophrenia were randomized to take a placebo or probiotic supplements plus 400 IU vitamin D daily for 12 weeks. Severity of the disease and cognitive function were evaluated by tests called the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the 30-point Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), respectively.
A total of 69 patients completed the study. The MoCA score increased by 1.96 units in the probiotic-containing supplement group compared with the placebo group. Also, the percentage of patients with MoCA scores of 26 or higher (indicating normal cognition) rose significantly in the intervention group. Between-group differences in PANSS scores were not significant.
“Probiotics may be a novel way to treat mental disorders by regulating gut microbiota,” said corresponding author Gita Sadighi, MD, of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, in Iran.
URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/npr2.12431
Additional Information
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About the Journal
Neuropsychopharmacology Reports, the official publication of the Japanese Society of Neuropsychopharmacology and the Japanese Society of Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology, publishes articles on all aspects of neuropsychopharmacology and its related fields in the following categories: Review Articles, Original Articles, Micro Reports and Case Reports. Other categories may be occasionally set for invited articles.
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Can probiotics plus vitamin D supplements benefit people with schizophrenia?
2024-04-10
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