Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects more than 1 percent of the adult population in the United States, according to the National Institute for Mental Health. No cure for schizophrenia exists, but treatment options are available. People with schizophrenia are often treated with anti-psychotic medications to reduce the symptoms that interfere with daily functioning. Therapy is used with medications to help people cope with the disease and learn new strategies to control symptoms.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is characterized by positive and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms include abnormal behavior, such as hallucinations, delusions and cognitive impairments. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia include social isolation, flat or blunted affect and decreased pleasure in once-enjoyable activities. Traditional anti-psychotic medications targeted positive symptoms by reducing hallucinations and delusions but often caused more negative symptoms. Preliminary research suggests that D-serine and N-methylglycine when taken with anti-psychotics may help relieve the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
D-serine
D-serine is a naturally occurring proteinogenic amino acid. It is important in metabolism and helps the human body break down particular enzymes. Research has suggested that D-serine can help in the treatment of schizophrenia along with anti-psychotic medications. A study published in "Schizophrenia Research" in 2010 found that higher doses of D-serine may be effective in treating symptoms of schizophrenia. The double-blind investigation compared doses of D-serine in 30 mg per kilogram per day, 60 mg per kilogram per day and 120 mg per kilogram per day. Doses 60 mg per kilogram per day and higher were successful in treating cognitive and persistent symptoms.
N-methylglycine
N-methylglycine, or sarcosine, is a natural amino acid that is metabolized to glycine. Sarcosine can be found in foods such as egg yolks, meat and some vegetables. Research in 2005 found that sarcosine used as an adjunct therapy helps to reduce symptoms of schizophrenia in stable long-term patients as well as people experiencing acute psychotic episodes, related to the disease. The results were published in "Archives of General Psychiatry." Another study published in "Biological Psychiatry" found similar results.
Precautions
Schizophrenia is a serious, but often treatable, disorder. The research on N-methylglycine and D-serine used the amino acids as supplements with traditional anti-psychotic medications. Research suggests that these amino acids play an important role in treating schizophrenia and may be added to new medications in the future. Larger studies need to be done before there is any conclusive evidence. Consult with your psychiatrist before adding any supplements or changing your medication.
References
- "The American Journal of Psychiatry"; D-Serine Added to Clozapine for the Treatment of Schizophrenia; Guochuan E. Tsai, et al.; November 1999
- "Schizophrenia Research"; High Dose D-Serine in the Treatment of Schizophrenia; J.T. Kantrowitz; August 2010
- "Archives of General Psychiatry"; Sarcosine or D-serine Add-on Treatment for Acute Exacerbation of Schizophrenia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled Study; H.Y. Lane, et al.; November 2005
- "Biological Psychiatry"; Glycine Transporter I Inhibitor, N-methylglycine (Sarcosine), Added to Antipsychotics for the Treatment of Schizophrenia; G. Tsai, et al.; March 2004
- Healthy Place; Atypical Antipsychotic Medications for Treatment of Schizophrenia; March 2007
- National Institute for Mental Health; Schizophrenia; July 2010
