Role of Selected Antioxidants (Vitamin C and E) in the Management of Schizophrenia

Background: Antioxidants are substances that are considered as a defensive material which protects cells from destruction. It is evident that use of food stuff rich in antioxidant will fortify one's ability to encounter with physical & mental disorders. Since, among several potential elucidations, oxidative stress is more likely deliberated as one of the causative factors which give rise to cognitive and functional impairment. This deterioration further result in intricacy in ones thought process as progressive brain changes crop-up schizophrenic unfold. Therefore, this study was conducted with objectives to explore the role of selected antioxidants (vitamin C & E) and to compare the role of both vitamins as an add-on management of schizophrenia .Materials & Methods: One hundred and five patients were selected from department of psychiatry King Edward Medical University Lahore, and assigned into 3 groups by simple random lottery method. For eight weeks, Vitamin C group intervened with 500mg vitamin C tablet once a day, vitamin E group with 600IU vitamin E twice daily and placebo group was given 500 mg paraffin oil capsule daily. PANSS scale was used to assess the symptoms of schizophrenia. Demographic information was collected by structured questionnaire. Dietary habits were assessed by food frequency questionnaire.