This pilot study explored the effects of a ketogenic diet on participants with bipolar disorder. 20 participants who were not currently experiencing mania or depression followed a ketogenic diet for 6-8 weeks. The ketogenic diet was linked with positive effects on both brain and metabolic measures.
Ketone levels, measured in a subset of participants, were correlated with improved mood and energy level, and reduced anxiety and impulsivity. Advanced neuroimaging revealed decreased glutamate and glutamine levels in brain regions associated with emotional regulation in participants in ketosis, indicating that ketogenic therapy may reduce neural excitotoxicity, a factor implicated in bipolar disorder. Researchers also observed decreases in myo-inositol, a component of insulin signaling pathways. Participants experienced significant weight loss and cardiovascular benefits, including decreased BMI and blood pressure.
These findings suggest ketogenic therapy is a promising treatment approach for both mental health and metabolic outcomes in serious mental illness, highlighting the need for larger-scale clinical trials and further studies to understand the mechanisms that cause these improvements.
