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. 2008 Dec;5(4):203-8.
doi: 10.4306/pi.2008.5.4.203. Epub 2008 Dec 31.

Peripheral amino Acid levels in schizophrenia and antipsychotic treatment

Vincenzo De Luca  1 , Emanuela Viggiano, Giovanni Messina, Alessandro Viggiano, Carol Borlido, Andrea Viggiano, Marcellino Monda
Affiliations

Peripheral amino Acid levels in schizophrenia and antipsychotic treatment

Vincenzo De Luca et al. Psychiatry Investig. 2008 Dec.

Abstract

Abnormal levels of amino acids have been reported in patients with schizophrenia and have also been investigated as a biomarker to monitor antipsychotic treatment, however results have been inconsistent. The purpose of the present review is to summarize the evidence in the literature of whether amino acid levels can be a biomarker and predict the treatment outcome in schizophrenia. The current review does not support amino acid concentration as a useful biomarker for monitoring antipsychotic response in patients with schizophrenia, although there is evidence that high levels of serum homocysteine and glutamate might be considered as a trait marker for schizophrenia. This review has also highlighted a considerable dearth of studies, specifically of studies evaluating antipsychotic side-effects.

Keywords: Amino acids; Antipsychotics; Neuroleptics; Schizophrenia.

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