Saturday Oct 12, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A study report suggests that patients with schizophrenia can improve their negative symptoms by taking glycine as a dietary supplement.

In the study, 14 patients with Schizophrenia were treated with glycine supplements in a dose of 1.45 grams per day or placebo.  Researchers found patients receiving glycine significantly improved negative symptoms. Negative symptoms are something found in healthy people, but not in patients with the negative symptoms.

The researchers believed that glycine improves negative symptoms by potentiating neurotransmission mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. 

Reference

Amelioration of negative symptoms in schizophrenia by glycine.

Javitt, Daniel C.; Zylberman, Ilana; Zukin, Stephen R.; Heresco-Levy, Uriel; Lindenmayer, Jean-Pierre

The American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol 151(8), Aug 1994, 1234-1236.

Some basics about glycine

Glycine is a simple amino acid found in all sorts of proteins and it has already been found to prevent glycation of proteins by reducing sugar.  Advanced glycated products are linked to aging.  Prevention against glycation of proteins like hemoglobin may potentially help slow the aging process.  Evidence also shows that 3 grams of glycine before bedtime improves sleep quality.

In addition to helping Schizophrenia, slowing aging process and improving sleep quality, glycine is also used to treat stroke, benign prostatic hyperplasia and some rare metabolic disorders.  Glycine may also protect the kidneys from side effects of certain drugs used after organ transplantation and the side effect of alcohol on the liver.

Also glycine may help prevent cancer such as oral cancer and enhance working memory.

Glycine can be used safely in a dose 2 to 3 grams (2000 to 3000 milligrams) per day.

Some basics about schizophrenia

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease or disorder and patients may talk or do things senselessly. 

What are the symptoms of Schizophrenia?

Possible positive symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations, delusions, dysfunctional thinking, movement disorders, and negative symptoms include flat effect, lack of pleasure, lack of ability to start and continue planned activity and lack of interest in talking.  Patients also have some cognitive symptoms including poor executive functioning, trouble paying attention, and problem with working memory.

What are the causes for Schizophrenia?

Genetics plays a major role in Schizophrenia.  Environmental factors are less known and therefore it remains largely unknown what can be done to help patients.

Who are at risk for Schizophrenia?

About 1% of American are believed to live with this disease.  Schizophrenia can be found both in men and women.  The disease starts often at an age between 16 and 30 years with symptions like hallucinations and delusions. And men start having symptoms earlier than women do.  People at age 45 or older who are not diagnosed with the disorder by this age are not expected to develop the disorder.

What are the treatments for Schizophrenia?

The main treatments are antipsychotic medications including chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol), perphenazine (Etrafon and Trilafon), and fluphenazine (Prolixin).  Noewer antipsychotic drugs also called second generation antipsychotic medications include clozapine (Clozaril), rsperidone (Rsiperdal), olanzapine (Zyprexa), quetiapien (Seroquel), ziprasizone(Geodon), arupiprazole(abilify), and paliperidone (Invega).