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Antipsychotic drugs can improve psychosis, but they do not have an impressive impact on the cognitive and negative dimensions of schizophrenia. With data accumulating on reduced signaling of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) in schizophrenia, investigators in Taiwan conducted a 6-week, placebo-controlled study of sodium benzoate, a food preservative that inhibits the enzyme D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO). Because DAAO metabolizes the NMDA co-agonist D-serine, sodium benzoate facilitates NMDA activity. One author has commercial interests in the treatment.
Sodium benzoate (1 g/day) or placebo was given to 52 participants with schizophrenia, who were on stable doses of antipsychotic drugs (mostly haloperidol and risperidone); 47 patients c…