Clinical and metabolic response to vitamin D plus probiotic in schizophrenia patients

BackgroundThis study determined the effects of a novel combination of vitamin D and probiotic on metabolic and clinical symptoms in chronic schizophrenia.MethodsThis trial was conducted among 60 patients with chronic schizophrenia to receive either 50,000IU vitamin D3 every 2weeks plus 8x10(9)CFU/day probiotic (n=30) or placebo (n=30) for 12weeks.ResultsVitamin D and probiotic co-supplementation was associated with a significant improvement in the general (-3.14.7 vs. +0.33.9, P=0.004) and total PANSS scores (-7.4 +/- 8.7 vs. -1.9 +/- 7.5, P=0.01). Vitamin D and probiotic co-supplementation also significantly increased total antioxidant capacity (+51.1 +/- 129.7 vs. -20.7 +/- 53.3mmol/L, P=0.007), and significantly decreased malondialdehyde (-0.3 +/- 0.9 vs. +0.2 +/- 0.4mol/L, P=0.01) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (-2.3 +/- 3.0 vs. -0.3 +/- 0.8mg/L, P=0.001) compared with the placebo. Moreover, taking vitamin D plus probiotic significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose (-7.0 +/- 9.9 vs. -0.2 +/- 9.9mg/dL, P=0.01), insulin concentrations (-2.7 +/- 2.3 vs. +0.4 +/- 2.0 IU/mL, P<0.001), homeostasis model of assessment-estimated insulin resistance (-0.8 +/- 0.7 vs. +0.1 +/- 0.7, P<0.001), triglycerides (-7.8 +/- 25.2 vs. +10.1 +/- 30.8mg/dL, P=0.01) and total cholesterol levels (-4.9 +/- 15.0 vs. +5.9 +/- 19.5mg/dL, P=0.04) and total-/HDL-cholesterol ratio (-0.1 +/- 0.6 vs. +0.3 +/- 0.8, P=0.04).Conclusion Probiotic and vitamin D for 12weeks to chronic schizophrenia had beneficial effects on the general and total PANSS score, and metabolic profiles.Trial Registration This study was retrospectively registered in the Iranian website (www.irct.ir) for clinical trials registration (http://www.irct.ir: IRCT2017072333551N2). 07-31-2017 2