Examining the links between vitamin C and schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis on circulating levels and supplementation outcomes.

What was studied

This review pooled 19 studies on vitamin C and schizophrenia. It asked 2 questions. Do people with schizophrenia have different vitamin C levels in the blood than control people? And does taking vitamin C supplements change their symptoms? Some studies compared people with and without the illness. Others tested supplements. The quality of the studies was rated with scoring tools.

What they found

People with schizophrenia had lower vitamin C levels than control people. Supplements were linked to fewer psychotic symptoms. This result came from 6 datasets. The authors call both results significant.

What it means for patients

The authors say low vitamin C seems to be a steady feature of schizophrenia. They say this holds across many groups of people. They suggest supplements may be a safe and cheap add-on to antipsychotic drugs.

Why it is not certain yet

The supplement result rests on only 6 datasets. The supplement studies were rated with a tool for non-randomized studies. The abstract does not give how long people took the supplements. It does not give data on side effects, though the authors call supplements safe. A review can only be as good as the studies in it.

Source

Examining the links between vitamin C and schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis on circulating levels and supplementation outcomes.

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