Enhanced Antipsychotic Treatment: Modulating Oxidative Stress with Vitamin D and E Co-Administration

Abstract

Background: Antipsychotics may increase oxidative stress, potentially damaging brain tissues. Antioxidants like vitamins D and E could mitigate this side effect from long-term antipsychotic use. This study aimed to assess the effect of vitamin D & E by measuring two oxidative markers, Superoxide Dismutase and Glutathione Peroxidase, in patients undergoing antipsychotic treatment. Methods: A randomized controlled trial (NCT 06200584), approved by the ERB, was conducted from January to June 2021 at the Baluchistan Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Quetta, Pakistan. Using non-probability purposive sampling, 260 participants were enrolled. Group 1 served as healthy controls, while groups 2, 3, and 4 received olanzapine (10 mg/day), risperidone (2 mg/day), and quetiapine (100 mg/day), respectively. Groups 5, 6, and 7 received the same antipsychotics with added vitamin D (200,000 IU weekly) and vitamin E (400 mg daily). After two months, blood samples were analyzed for SOD and GPx, with statistical analysis performed using SPSS 26. Independent samples t-test and ANOVA were applied, p-value≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: Compared to control, statistically significantly lower enzyme levels were observed in Groups 2 and 3 (p<0.001roups 5, 6 and 7 with Vitamin E and D along with one of the antipsychotics, had significantly raised blood enzyme levels (p < 0.001) vs control. No gender-based differences were observed between the groups. Conclusion: Antipsychotics cause redox imbalance with decreases in oxidative markers whereas antioxidants, vitamins D and E can significantly increase these enzymes and thus can be a valuable addition in management to lower oxidative stress in psychotic patients.

Keywords

• Vitamins, Glutathione Peroxidase GPX1, Superoxide Dismutase