Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

Glycine for Schizophrenia - Report

Glycine as a Supplementary Treatment for Schizophrenia - Special Report

In response to an email from one of our visitors, we have a new Special Report that focuses on the benefits of glycine as as supplementary treatment for schizophrenia. Early clinical trials have demonstrated approximately a 20% to 40% improvement in negative symptoms.

Although it is relatively uncommon in current treatment regimens, perhaps because further research is needed, early clinical trials that examine the effects of glycine or d-cycloserine supplements when given to patients in addition to standard antipsychotic treatments have shown promising results. The trials report a significant reduction in negative and cognitive symptoms in response to the glycine therapy.

Some scientists suggest that because glycine is an essential modulator of the NMDA- glutamate receptor in the brain, glycine and glycine-like substances (i.e., d-serine and d-cycloserine) may effectively improve NMDA activity, subsequently correcting disordered synaptic signalling and brain atrophy seen in schizophrenia patients.

Read the full Glycine Treatment of Schizophrenia report, which includes references to some of the glycine clinical trials.

The report is also available in the Schizophrenia Biology and Genetics section, under "Reports on Schizophrenia"