Schizophrenia is a long-term brain disorder that’s marked by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, difficulty with thoughts, and a lack of motivation. While there is no cure for schizophrenia, you can overcome symptoms with the proper treatment.

Still, many patients find treatment ineffective or simply not for them. With that, they’ve sought after all-natural alternatives as a means of curbing schizophrenia symptoms. The difficulty with this is there’s only so much research backing up these alternatives. Not to mention, much of the data comes from self-reports.

However, some data has found that those with schizophrenia often lack important vitamins. For this reason, we’ve looked into some of the best vitamin supplements people with schizophrenia can take.

What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that’s defined by these common symptoms: ¹

• Break from reality
• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Lack of ability to express emotions
• Paranoia

While scientists still aren’t sure what causes schizophrenia, they believe it has something to do with genetics, environment, and brain structure.

Unfortunately, there’s no cure for schizophrenia. Due to this, most patients are on some form of treatment for the entirety of their lives. Still, with the right treatment route, a person can go on to living a fulfilling life.

Schizophrenia Treatment

Traditionally, schizophrenia is treated with a combination of antipsychotic medication and therapy. While antipsychotics are usually effective, they can come with several unwanted side effects. These include: ²

• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Restlessness
• Weight gain

For some people, these side effects outweigh the benefits of the medication. Others find the medication is simply ineffective.

People in this category often look for “complementary” or “alternative” treatment options. Some have found that vitamin supplements can be effective in curbing symptoms. However, they usually work better when paired with specific therapies. ³

Furthermore, it’s important to note that there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for schizophrenia. Most people experiment with different treatment options before finding the one that works best for them.

What Vitamins are Good for Schizophrenia?

In recent studies, it’s been found that those who struggle with schizophrenia often lack the necessary vitamins. While it’s believed there are several other factors at play, some scientists think that supplementing these vitamins can help ease symptoms.

Before trying these vitamins, you should talk to your healthcare provider. They will have an understanding of your condition and help narrow down your search for what vitamins are good for schizophrenia.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Unlike most fatty acids, we cannot intake omega-3 without consuming fish. The importance of omega-3s is they have anti-inflammatory effects. Some research has found that inflammation (particularly, in the brain) may play a role in the development of mental illness.

In one study, 81 young people who were at high risk of schizophrenia were either given a fish oil supplement or a placebo. Those who took the fish oil were much less likely to develop symptoms associated with schizophrenia. ⁴

Unfortunately, there haven’t been any studies to indicate whether or not fish oil can help those who’ve already been diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, omega-3s can also help reduce the risk of heart disease. ⁵ This is notable because people with schizophrenia are more at risk of heart-related conditions. ⁶

B Vitamins

A nonprofit organization called Food for the Brain claims that people with schizophrenia often struggle with low blood levels of folic acid (also known as vitamin B9). With that, it can be assumed that taking a folic acid supplement may help to curb symptoms of schizophrenia.

Furthermore, a 2014 research review found that other B vitamins, such as B12 and B6, were helpful. Most studies suggest using a combination of these vitamins to get the best results. ⁷

Vitamin D

In a 2018 study, it was discovered that babies with deficient vitamin D levels were at a 44% higher risk of developing schizophrenia later in life. ⁸ In a 2014 review, it was found that people with a lack of vitamin D were twice as likely to develop schizophrenia. ⁹

Unfortunately, both studies are somewhat inconclusive. Elaine Weiner, MD, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland Medical System, mentions that people with schizophrenia are more likely to stay indoors. With that, they’re less likely to develop vitamin D naturally (this is where the correlation lies).

The Importance of Lifestyle Management

While you may find vitamin supplementation integral in your schizophrenia treatment, you’ll likely want to incorporate other lifestyle changes. Our brains are highly responsive to what we take into our bodies. For this reason, research has found a diet plan to be effective in easing schizophrenia symptoms. ¹⁰

Some foods to consider incorporating into your diet include:

• Chicken marinara
• Clams
• Fruits
• Nondairy yogurt
• Oysters and crab
• Salmon and other fatty fish
• Spinach
• Vegetables (lima beans, kidney beans, sweet potatoes, etc.)

Some foods you may want to avoid include:

• Bread
• Refined sugars

Furthermore, certain lifestyle changes can be effective in reducing schizophrenia symptoms. One of the most notable is exercise. Studies have concluded that exercising helps increase hippocampal plasticity in patients with schizophrenia and can be beneficial in easing stresses associated with the condition. ¹¹

Other lifestyle choices you may want to consider include:

• Avoiding drugs and alcohol
• Ensure regular quality sleep
• Stay connected with friends and family
• Stick to your treatment plan

Final Word

While vitamin supplements can greatly help with schizophrenia, it’s important to ensure that you also incorporate other lifestyle changes. Furthermore, you should always speak with a mental health professional before diving into new treatment options.

References

¹ Hany M, Rehman B, Rizvi A, Chapman J. Schizophrenia. 2024 Feb 23. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 30969686.

² Stroup TS, Gray N. Management of common adverse effects of antipsychotic medications. World Psychiatry. 2018 Oct;17(3):341-356. doi: 10.1002/wps.20567. PMID: 30192094; PMCID: PMC6127750.

³ Ganguly P, Soliman A, Moustafa AA. Holistic Management of Schizophrenia Symptoms Using Pharmacological and Non-pharmacological Treatment. Front Public Health. 2018 Jun 7;6:166. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2018.00166. PMID: 29930935; PMCID: PMC5999799.

⁴ Amminger GP, Schäfer MR, Schlögelhofer M, Klier CM, McGorry PD. Longer-term outcome in the prevention of psychotic disorders by the Vienna omega-3 study. Nat Commun. 2015 Aug 11;6:7934. doi: 10.1038/ncomms8934. PMID: 26263244; PMCID: PMC4918317.

⁵ Jain AP, Aggarwal KK, Zhang PY. Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2015;19(3):441-5. PMID: 25720716.

⁶ Jindal R, MacKenzie EM, Baker GB, Yeragani VK. Cardiac risk and schizophrenia. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2005 Nov;30(6):393-5. PMID: 16327872; PMCID: PMC1277021.

⁷ Brown HE, Roffman JL. Vitamin supplementation in the treatment of schizophrenia. CNS Drugs. 2014 Jul;28(7):611-22. doi: 10.1007/s40263-014-0172-4. PMID: 24846474; PMCID: PMC4083629.

⁸ Eyles DW, Trzaskowski M, Vinkhuyzen AAE, Mattheisen M, Meier S, Gooch H, Anggono V, Cui X, Tan MC, Burne THJ, Jang SE, Kvaskoff D, Hougaard DM, Nørgaard-Pedersen B, Cohen A, Agerbo E, Pedersen CB, Børglum AD, Mors O, Sah P, Wray NR, Mortensen PB, McGrath JJ. The association between neonatal vitamin D status and risk of schizophrenia. Sci Rep. 2018 Dec 6;8(1):17692. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-35418-z. PMID: 30523285; PMCID: PMC6283870.

⁹ Yüksel RN, Altunsoy N, Tikir B, Cingi Külük M, Unal K, Goka S, Aydemir C, Goka E. Correlation between total vitamin D levels and psychotic psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia: therapeutic implications for add-on vitamin D augmentation. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2014 Dec;4(6):268-75. doi: 10.1177/2045125314553612. PMID: 25489478; PMCID: PMC4257987.

¹⁰ Tsuruga K, Sugawara N, Sato Y, Saito M, Furukori H, Nakagami T, Nakamura K, Takahashi I, Nakaji S, Yasui-Furukori N. Dietary patterns and schizophrenia: a comparison with healthy controls. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2015 Apr 22;11:1115-20. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S74760. PMID: 25960655; PMCID: PMC4411018.

¹¹ Girdler SJ, Confino JE, Woesner ME. Exercise as a Treatment for Schizophrenia: A Review. Psychopharmacol Bull. 2019 Feb 15;49(1):56-69. PMID: 30858639; PMCID: PMC6386427.