Abstract

NIU, Kai; ZHAO, Ximin; WEI, Ying  and  WANG, Yuefeng. Clinical efficacy and safety of folic acid and vitamin B₁₂ for the adjuvant treatment of schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Invest. clín [online]. 2023, vol.64, n.3, pp.424-436.  Epub Sep 29, 2023. ISSN 2477-9393.  https://doi.org/10.54817/ic.v64n3a12.

Given the different effects of folate and vitamin B12 on the adjuvant treatment of schizophrenia (SCH), their efficacy and safety as adjuvant therapies for SCH were systematically evaluated by evidence-based medicine. Publication retrieval was performed using authoritative databases such as the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science to screen randomized controlled trials (RCTs). After the quality evaluation and data extraction of included studies, eligible RCTs were systematically reviewed using Review Manager 5.2 software. In total, 14 RCTs were included. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that as the adjuvant therapy for SCH, vitamin B12 differed significantly from folate in terms of anxiety relief rate [odds ratio (OR)=1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.02, 1.61), p=0.03, I 2 =0%, Z=2.13]. However, there were no significant differences in the incidence rate of mania [OR=1.13, 95% CI (0.78,1.65), p=0.65, I 2=36%, Z=0.65], total efficacy [OR=1.06, 95% CI (0.72, 1.56), p=0.77, I 2=0%, Z=0.30] and incidence rate of adverse reactions [OR=1.15, 95% CI (0.88, 1.49), p=0.31, I 2=0%, Z=1.03]. Although folate and vitamin B12 exhibit no significant differences in the adjuvant treatment of SCH, vitamin B12 exerts markedly fewer side effects than folate drugs, and it is of determinant significance for the clinical adjuvant medication of SCH.

Keywords : folic acid; meta-analysis; schizophrenia; vitamin B₁₂.

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