Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects how people interpret reality. Symptoms of schizophrenia may include hallucinations, delusions, mood swings, disordered thoughts, lack of awareness, loss of emotion and disorganized speech. Vitamin therapy can ease schizophrenia symptoms and improve your mental health. It is important to contact a medical professional before treating your schizophrenia symptoms with vitamins.
Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin that improves schizophrenia symptoms such as disordered thoughts, hallucinations, delusions and monotone speech, repairs damaged brain tissues, balances hormone levels, supports a healthy nervous system and improves your mental health, according to Steve Blake, author of "Vitamin and Minerals Demystified." The recommended daily dosage for vitamin B-6 is 1.3 to 1.7 mg for adults. Foods rich in vitamin B-6 include bananas, pork loin, rainbow trout, sunflower seeds, oatmeal, chicken, potatoes, ready-to-eat cereals, roast beef, walnuts, peanut butter and soybeans.
Vitamin B-9
Vitamin B-9, also known as folic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that heals damaged brain tissues, aids in cellular reproduction, supports growth and development, prevents mood swings and alleviates symptoms commonly associated with schizophrenia such as delusions and hallucinations, notes Michael Zimmermann, author of the book "Burgerstein's Handbook of Nutrition: Micronutrients in the Prevention and Therapy of Disease." Foods rich in vitamin B-9 include asparagus, white rice, green peas, broccoli, fortified cereals, spinach, beef liver, Romaine lettuce, wheat germ, tomato juice, orange juice, egg noodles, eggs, white bread, bananas and papayas.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that strengthens your immune system and protects your brain from damaging free radicals that can trigger schizophrenia in predisposed individuals, according to Gary Null, author of the book "Food-Mood Connection: Nutritional and Environmental Approaches to Mental Health and Physical Well-Being." Null reports that vitamin C also keeps your brain tissues hydrated, improves energy levels, heals damaged brain tissues, supports a healthy nervous system, accelerates the healing process, aids in collagen production and regulates your moods. The recommended daily dosage for vitamin C is 1,000 mg for adults. Foods rich in vitamin C include strawberries, blackberries, tomatoes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, cranberries, lemons, oranges, pineapples and grapefruits.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that improves immune system function and protects your brain from infections, viruses and diseases, according to Artemis Simopoulos, author of the book "Nutrition and Fitness: Mental Health, Aging and the Implementation of a Healthy Diet and Physical Activity Lifestyle." Simopoulos explains that vitamin E also decreases brain inflammation, heals wounds and boosts your mood. The recommended daily dosage for vitamin E is 15 mg for adults. Foods rich in vitamin E include almonds, spinach, soybean oil, corn oil, peanut butter, hazelnuts, tomatoes and mangoes.
References
- "Vitamins and Minerals Demystified"; Steve Blake; 2007
- "Women and Schizophrenia"; David J. Castle, John McGrath and Jayashri Kulkarni; 2000
- "Epidemiology of Schizophrenia"; Ezra S. Susser, Mary Cannon and Peter B. Jones; 2002
- "Nutrition and Fitness: Mental Health, Aging and the Implementation of a Healthy Diet and Physical Activity Lifestyle"; Artemis P. Simopoulos; 2005
- "Food-Mood Connection: Nutritional and Environmental Approaches to Mental Health and Physical Well-Being"; Gary Null; 2008
- "Burgerstein's Handbook of Nutrition: Micronutrients in the Prevention and Therapy of Disease"; Michael Zimmermann; 2001
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