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.