Reflection

Nutritional interventions for the adjunctive

Treatment of schizophrenia: a brief review

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks,
feels, and behaves which requires lifelong treatment, even when symptoms have subsided. There
are nutritional treatment strategies which can be an alternative way in treating a patient who
have schizophrenia.
People with schizophrenia have found relief from many of their symptoms through
changing their diet and nutritional treatment strategies. Reduce sugar, carbohydrates and
caffeine intake (this helps blood sugar stay balanced), Adding foods containing essential fatty
acids (people with schizophrenia have reduced amounts of these fatty acids in their brains so
adding foods that contain them can help treat their illness), increase antioxidant levels (people
with schizophrenia experience increased oxidation in their brain), taking a daily multivitamin
(niacin deficiency can produce thought disorders, hallucinations and depression) and cut gluten
out to diet (mental illness often produces sensitivity to gluten, which can result in many of the
symptoms of schizophrenia). In this peer reviewed journal, nutritional treatment which can help
manage the condition especially during crisis periods or times of severe symptoms,
hospitalization may be necessary to ensure safety, proper nutrition, adequate sleep and basic
hygiene. Nutritional treatment include the following: Oxidative stress and the benefits of
supplementation, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), Alpha lipoic acid (ALA), Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-
methoxytryptamine), Vitamins C and E, Essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), L-
Theanine, One carbon metabolism and B vitamins, Folate and B vitamin supplementation,
Immune-mediated responses and the therapeutic benefits of casein- and gluten-free diets,
Exclusion diets as an adjunct to anti-psychotic medication.
We have learned that nutritional strategies may help decrease the negative symptoms
that accompany schizophrenia and has a better recovery rate on a highly nutritious food and
pose little risk of harm to patients. Caring for food is also very important in schizophrenia patient
and eating well help us maintain a healthy weight or lose excess weight, increases our energy,
and lowers the risk for certain diseases.