Randomized multicenter investigation of folate plus vitamin B12 supplementation in schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

More effective treatments are needed for negative symptoms of schizophrenia, which are typically chronic, disabling, and costly. Negative symptoms have previously been associated with reduced blood folate levels, especially among patients with low-functioning variants in genes that regulate folate metabolism, suggesting the potential utility of folate supplementation.

Objectives

To determine whether folic acid plus vitamin B12 supplementation reduces negative symptoms of schizophrenia and whether functional variants in folate-related genes influence treatment response.

Design

Parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of 16 weeks of treatment with 2 mg of folic acid and 400 μg of vitamin B12.

Setting

Three community m

SUBMITTER: Roffman JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4394629 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature