Supplementation with probiotics and vitamin D may benefit cognitive function in schizophrenia patients: Study

Written By : Dr. Shravani Dali |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2024-04-21T22:45:27+05:30 | Updated On 22 April 2024 11:19 AM IST

Supplementation with probiotics and vitamin D may benefit cognitive function in schizophrenia patients suggests a new study published in the Neuropsychopharmacology Reports.

Manipulation of the intestinal microbiome and supplying vitamin D can attenuate psychiatric symptoms in schizophrenic patients. The current study tried to evaluate the effects of probiotic/vitamin D supplementation on the cognitive function and disease severity of schizophrenic patients. In the present study, 70 patients (aged 18–65) with schizophrenia were recruited. Participants were randomly allocated to the placebo (n = 35) and intervention (probiotic supplements+400 IU vitamin D, n = 35) groups. Severity of disease and cognitive function (primary outcomes) were evaluated by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tests, respectively.

Moreover, lipid profile, body mass index (BMI), gastrointestinal (GI) problems, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were evaluated as secondary outcomes. Results: A total of 69 patients completed the study. The MoCA score was increased by 1.96 units in the probiotic-containing supplement group compared to the placebo (p = 0.004). Also, the percentage of subjects with MoCA score ≥ 26 rose significantly in the intervention group (p = 0.031). Moreover, TC (p = 0.011), FBS (p = 0.009), and CRP (p < 0.001) significantly decreased in the supplement group compared to the placebo. Although the probiotic supplement reduced PANSS score by 2.82 units, the difference between the study groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.247). Co-administration of probiotics and vitamin D has beneficial effects on the improvement of cognitive function in schizophrenic patients.

Reference:

Mohammadi A, Sadighi G, Nazeri Astaneh A, Tajabadi-Ebrahimi M, Dejam T. Co-administration of probiotic and vitamin D significantly improves cognitive function in schizophrenic patients: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Neuropsychopharmacol Rep. 2024; 00: 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1002/npr2.12431

Supplementationprobioticsvitamin Dbenefitcognitivefunctionschizophrenia patients

Source : Neuropsychopharmacology Reports

Dr. Shravani Dali

Dr. Shravani Dali has completed her BDS from Pravara institute of medical sciences, loni. Following which she extensively worked in the healthcare sector for 2+ years. She has been actively involved in writing blogs in field of health and wellness. Currently she is pursuing her Masters of public health-health administration from Tata institute of social sciences. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751