Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels and behaves. It affects about 1% of the population worldwide, with symptoms appearing typically in late adolescence or early adulthood.

What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder that affects people of all ages, races, and genders. People with schizophrenia may experience a range of symptoms including delusions, hallucinations, disordered thinking, and unusual behavior.

Delusions are beliefs that are not based on reality. People with schizophrenia may believe that someone is trying to harm them, that they have special powers or abilities, or that they are someone else entirely.

Hallucinations are false sensory experiences. People with schizophrenia may hear voices that are not there, see things that are not there, or feel things that are not there.

Disordered thinking involves difficulty processing information and making logical connections.

People with schizophrenia may have trouble staying on topic, may make illogical connections between unrelated things, or may struggle to understand abstract concepts.

Unusual behavior may include decreased or increased activity levels, odd movements or gestures, and other unusual behaviors that don’t seem to fit with the situation.

What Causes Schizophrenia?

Despite decades of research, the exact cause of schizophrenia is still unknown. However, a number of factors have been identified that may increase the risk of developing the disorder.

Studies have found that schizophrenia is strongly linked to genetics.

People who have a family history of the disorder are at a higher risk of developing schizophrenia themselves, and identical twins have a much higher likelihood of both having the disorder than fraternal twins.

Other factors that have been linked to schizophrenia include environmental stressors, certain infections, and drug use. However, these factors do not cause schizophrenia on their own, and only increase the risk of developing the disorder.

The Role of B Vitamins in Schizophrenia

Several studies have suggested that there may be a link between B vitamin deficiencies and the onset of schizophrenia.

B vitamins are a group of water-soluble vitamins that are essential for many bodily functions, including metabolism, energy production, and the development and maintenance of the nervous system.

In particular, vitamins B6, B9 (also known as folate), and B12 play important roles in the synthesis and maintenance of neurotransmitters, which are chemicals in the brain that are responsible for communication between brain cells.

These vitamins are also involved in the regulation of gene expression and the production of myelin, which is a fatty substance that insulates nerve fibers.

Low levels of these B vitamins have been found in people with schizophrenia, and studies have suggested that supplementation with these vitamins may be beneficial in reducing psychosis and other symptoms of the disorder.

B6 and Schizophrenia

Studies have found that people with schizophrenia have lower serum levels of vitamin B6 than healthy controls, and that supplementation with B6 can improve symptoms of schizophrenia.

One study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that daily supplementation with 800 mg of B6 for 12 weeks improved cognitive and behavioral symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

Another study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology found that people with schizophrenia who received a high-dose vitamin B6 injection had improved negative symptoms – such as apathy and withdrawal – compared to people who received a placebo injection.

Folate and Schizophrenia

Low folate levels have also been linked to the onset of schizophrenia. Folate is involved in the production of neurotransmitters and in DNA synthesis and repair.

Low folate levels during pregnancy have been associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia in offspring.

Several studies have suggested that folate supplementation may be beneficial in reducing symptoms of schizophrenia.

A meta-analysis of eight randomized controlled trials found that supplementation with high-dose folate improved negative symptoms and overall symptoms of schizophrenia compared to placebo.

B12 and Schizophrenia

Vitamin B12 is involved in the production of myelin and in the synthesis of neurotransmitters.

Studies have found that people with schizophrenia have lower serum levels of vitamin B12 than healthy controls, and that supplementation with B12 can improve symptoms of schizophrenia.

One study published in Schizophrenia Bulletin found that supplementation with high-dose vitamin B12 for 12 weeks improved cognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia.

Another study published in Psychiatry Research found that people with schizophrenia who received B12 injections had a reduction in positive symptoms – such as hallucinations and delusions – compared to people who received a placebo injection.

The Bottom Line

Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder that affects many people worldwide.

While the exact cause of the disorder is still unknown, research has suggested that B vitamin deficiencies may play a role in the onset of schizophrenia and that supplementation with B vitamins may be beneficial in reducing symptoms of the disorder.