The Claim

In adults with chronic schizophrenia receiving stable risperidone therapy, daily supplementation with 1 mg of vitamin B12 or 1 mg of folic acid for eight weeks increases serum vitamin B12 concentrations by 177–211 pg/mL and serum folate concentrations by 3.4–3.6 ng/mL.

Source: Effects of Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid Supplementation on Negative Symptoms as the Primary Outcome and Positive and Cognitive Symptoms as Secondary Outcomes in Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
82score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Quantitative
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In adults with chronic schizophrenia taking stable risperidone, taking 1 mg of vitamin B12 or 1 mg of folic acid daily for eight weeks raises blood levels of vitamin B12 by 177–211 pg/mL and folate by 3.4–3.6 ng/mL.

See the scientific wording

In adults with chronic schizophrenia receiving stable risperidone therapy, daily supplementation with 1 mg of vitamin B12 or 1 mg of folic acid for eight weeks significantly increases serum concentrations of the respective vitamins, with mean increases of 177–211 pg/mL for vitamin B12 and 3.4–3.6 ng/mL for folate, confirming biological exposure to the intervention.

Why this might work

When a person takes a vitamin B12 or folic acid pill, the vitamins are absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream, where they bind to carrier proteins and circulate at higher levels, directly raising the amount measured in blood tests.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Effects of Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid Supplementation on Negative Symptoms as the Primary Outcome and Positive and Cognitive Symptoms as Secondary Outcomes in Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

    The study gave people with long-term schizophrenia daily B12 or folic acid pills for eight weeks and found their blood levels of these vitamins went up a lot — exactly what the claim says.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.