Herbal adjuvant therapy with a combination of Green Tea, Persian Borage, and Purslane to reduce antipsychotic-induced weight gain in Schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: Second‐generation antipsychotics can lead to metabolic problems. This study investigated whether an herbal compound with green tea, Persian borage, and purslane extracts could help in antipsychotic‐induced weight management in schizophrenia patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This triple‐blind, placebo‐controlled study at Hijazi Psychiatry Hospital in Mashhad, Iran, involved 73 schizophrenia patients. Participants received either an herbal compound or a placebo, alongside their antipsychotic medication. The primary outcome was changes in body mass index (BMI), with secondary outcomes including waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1c, lipid profile, blood pressure, appetite, quality of life, and psychotic symptom severity. RESULTS: The herbal compound significantly reduced BMI (p<0.001), WHR (p<0.001), HbA1c (p=0.042), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration (p=0.009), and systolic blood pressure (p=0.015) compared to the placebo. No significant differences were observed in FBS or lipid profile (except LDL) between the two groups. The intervention group had significantly lower appetite levels than the placebo group at weeks four and eight (p=0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score at any time. Participants reported no serious adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Adding herbal compound to antipsychotics significantly lowered BMI, WHR, HbA1c, LDL levels, systolic blood pressure, and appetite in schizophrenia patients.