§ Mr. CatonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will commission trials to assess the efficacy of nutritional therapy in treating mental health problems; [65975]
(2) what action he is taking to ensure that doctors are aware of evidence linking nutrition and forms of mental illness. [65976]
§ Mr. HuttonThere is no strong evidence that nutritional deficiencies play a role in the causation of schizophrenia nor that nutritional therapy has a role in its treatment. The Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutritional Policy have set up a subgroup to look at folic acid and the prevention of disease, which includes mental illness.