The Claim

In adults with chronic schizophrenia on stable risperidone, daily supplementation with 1 mg of vitamin B12 or 1 mg of folic acid for eight weeks has no significant effect on positive symptoms as measured by the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), with mean changes ranging from +2.3 to +4.5 points and no statistically significant between-group differences (P = 0.909).

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.

Description
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In adults with chronic schizophrenia taking risperidone, taking 1 mg of vitamin B12 or 1 mg of folic acid daily for eight weeks does not change the severity of positive symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions, as measured by the SAPS scale.

See the scientific wording

In adults with chronic schizophrenia on stable risperidone, daily supplementation with 1 mg of vitamin B12 or 1 mg of folic acid for eight weeks has no significant effect on positive symptoms, as measured by the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), with mean changes across all groups ranging from +2.3 to +4.5 points and no statistically significant between-group differences (P = 0.909).

Why this might work

Taking vitamin B12 and folic acid increases the body's ability to process methyl groups, which helps regulate gene activity and neurotransmitter production in the prefrontal brain region. This improves symptoms like lack of motivation and speech reduction, but does not change the brain circuits responsible for hallucinations or strange thoughts.

Supported 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 schizophrenia B12 or folic acid pills for eight weeks and found their hallucinations and strange thoughts didn’t get better or worse — just like the claim said. So the supplements didn’t help with those symptoms.

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

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