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L-Arginine Add-On Treatment for Schizophrenia: A Randomized,Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study

Yasemin KOÇYİĞİT, Gökhan YOCA, Sevilay KARAHAN, Yavuz AYHAN, Mümin Kazım YAZICI
2018 29(3): 147-153
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Objective: Current drug treatments for schizophrenia are only partially
effective and combination/augmentation strategies are commonly
used. Nitric Oxide (NO) may play a role in the pathophysiology of
schizophrenia. L-arginine is the precursor of NO. In this study, we aimed
to investigate whether L-arginine add-on to current medication might
improve positive, negative, and depressive symptoms in schizophrenia/
schizoaffective disorder patients in partial remission.
Method: The study was designed as a randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled, crossover study of L-arginine 3 g b.i.d. as an
add-on treatment to the patients’ usual medication. Twelve patients
diagnosed with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder were included.
The duration of the treatment was 3 weeks, with a wash-out period
of 7 days before alternation for the second arm. Psychopathology was
assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the
Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), and the Clinical
Global Impression (CGI) scales. The study was supported by Hacettepe
University Scientific Research and Development Office (Project No:
011D0110101013) (Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT02398279).
Results: Our analyses revealed that L-arginine 6 g/day add-on to
usual treatment was not superior to placebo for positive, negative, and
depressive symptoms associated with schizophrenia as assessed with
PANSS, CDSS and CGI scales.
Conclusion: In our study, L-arginine did not seem to have an effect on
schizophrenia symptoms. Studies with a larger sample size, with higher
doses of L-arginine, and with a longer duration are needed for a definite
conclusion.