The role of thiamine in schizophrenia

Objective: Review the relationship between thiamine and schizophrenia. Methods: Information was obtained from MEDLINE. Results: Nutritional status has been related to the development of schizophrenia. Genetic studies have identified numerous factors that link thiamine to schizophrenia, including the renin angiotensin system, heme oxygenase-1, advanced glycation end products, alpha-antitrypsin, coenzyme Q10, glycogen synthetase kinase-3, and the transcription factor p53. Thiamine has also been implicated in schizophrenia via its effects on matrix metalloproteinases, the Wnt/βcatenin signaling pathway, the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, prostaglandins, cyclooxygenase-2, reactive oxidative stress, and nitric oxide synthase. Conclusions: These data suggest a role of thiamine in patients with schizophrenia. Therefore, additional investigation of thiamine in schizophrenic patients is required.