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The Effects of Probiotic and Selenium Co-supplementation on Clinical and Metabolic Scales in Chronic Schizophrenia: a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Biological Trace Element Research volume 199, pages 4430–4438 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of probiotic and selenium co-supplementation on clinical and metabolic symptoms in patients with chronic schizophrenia. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 60 people with chronic schizophrenia to receive either 8 × 109 CFU/day probiotic plus 200 μg/day selenium (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Probiotic and selenium co-supplementation resulted in a significant improvement in the general Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score (β − 1.29; 95% CI, − 2.48, − 0.10; P = 0.03) compared with the placebo. Compared with the placebo, probiotic and selenium co-supplementation resulted in a significant elevation in total antioxidant capacity (β 91.09 mmol/L; 95% CI, 35.89, 146.30; P = 0.002) and total glutathione (β 96.50 μmol/L; 95% CI, 26.13, 166.87; P = 0.008) and a significant reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (β − 1.44 mg/L; 95% CI, − 2.22, − 0.66; P = 0.001). Additionally, co-supplementation significantly decreased fasting glucose (β − 7.40 mg/dL; 95% CI, − 10.15, − 4.64; P < 0.001), insulin levels (β − 1.46 μIU/mL; 95% CI, − 2.35, − 0.57; P = 0.002), and homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (β − 0.51; 95% CI, − 0.72, − 0.29; P < 0.001) and a significant increase in quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (β 0.01; 95% CI, 0.006, 0.01; P < 0.001) compared with the placebo. Probiotic and selenium co-supplementation for 12 weeks to patients with chronic schizophrenia had beneficial effects on the general PANSS score and some metabolic profiles. http://www.irct.ir, identifier IRCT20170513033941N41

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Fig. 1

Data availability

The primary data for this study is available from the authors on direct request.

Abbreviations

BPRS:

Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale

FPG:

Fasting plasma glucose

GSH:

Total glutathione

HOMA-IR:

Homeostasis model of assessment-estimated insulin resistance

hs-CRP:

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

PANSS:

Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale

QUICKI:

Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index

TAC:

Total antioxidant capacity.

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Acknowledgments

We are thankful to all patients who participated in this project.

Funding

Arak University of Medical Sciences (AUMS) funds this study with a role in the design of the trial and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

    Hamidreza Jamilian

  2. Clinical Research Development Unit-Matini/Kargarnejad Hospital, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR, Iran

    Amir Ghaderi

  3. Department of Addiction studies, School of Medical, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

    Amir Ghaderi

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  1. Hamidreza Jamilian
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  2. Amir Ghaderi
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Contributions

HJ and AG contributed in conception, design, statistical analysis, and drafting of the manuscript. HJ contributed in conception and data collection. The authors have read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amir Ghaderi.

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Jamilian, H., Ghaderi, A. The Effects of Probiotic and Selenium Co-supplementation on Clinical and Metabolic Scales in Chronic Schizophrenia: a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Biol Trace Elem Res 199, 4430–4438 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02572-3

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Keywords

  • Selenium
  • Probiotic
  • Schizophrenia
  • Positive and negative symptoms scale (PANSS)
  • Metabolic profiles