Diet's role in bipolar disorder is currently being researched. Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric condition characterized by mood changes that disrupt normal functioning. While diet may be associated with the disorder, it should not be considered a sole treatment. Bipolar disorder can be effectively treated with medication and therapy. Diet should be considered an adjunct to treatment until further research warrants its use as a sole treatment.
Correlation
People with bipolar disorder are more likely to have poor diets, according to a 2007 study published by A.M. Kilbourne and colleagues in "Bipolar Disorders." They are more likely to report only one daily meal, having trouble gaining access to food and having gained greater than 10 lbs in the past six months. Poor diets may contribute to the onset of bipolar symptoms, or bipolar symptoms could lead to poor nutrition. There could also be another contributing factor that leads to both poor nutrition and bipolar disorder.
B Complex
Inositol is a nutrient often grouped with the B complex of vitamins. Inositol may be helpful in treating bipolar depression, according to a 2000 study published by K.N. Chengappa and colleagues in "Bipolar Disorders." Choline is also similar to B vitamins. It may also be a beneficial bipolar treatment, found a 1996 study published by Andrew L. Stoll in "Biological Psychiatry." Folic acid is a B vitamin that may help treat the acute phase of mania when used as a supplement to the medication sodium valproate, found a 2009 study published by A.H. Behzadi and colleagues in "Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica."
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids may reduce symptoms of depression but not mania in people with bipolar disorder, found a 2008 review published by Paul Montgomery and Alexandra J. Richardson in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. No adverse events were reported as a result of taking omega-3 fatty acids.
Minerals
Magnesiocard, a magnesium preparation, may be useful in preventing bipolar disorder, according to a 1990 study published by Guy Chouinard and colleagues in "Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry." A nutritional supplement containing trace minerals may be helpful in treating symptoms of bipolar disorder, found a 2001 study published by Bonnie J. Kaplan and colleagues in the "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry." Trace minerals include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride and selenium.
Sources
You can get choline from liver, eggs, wheat germ, bacon, soybeans and pork. Inositol is present in fruits, especially grapefruit, beans, grains and nuts. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish oil and certain nut oils. They are present in high quantities in fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, herring, lake trout, sardines and albacore tuna. Magnesium is found in green vegetables, beans, peas, nuts, seeds and whole, unrefined grains.
References
- "Bipolar Disorders;" Inositol as an add-on treatment for bipolar depression.; K.N. Chengappa et al.; 2000.
- "Biological Psychiatry;" Choline in the treatment of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder: Clinical and neurochemical findings in lithium-treated patients; Andrew L. Stoll et al.; Sept. 1996.
- "Bipolar Disorders;" Nutrition and exercise behavior among patients with bipolar disorder; A.M. Kilbourne et al.; 2007.
- "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews"; Omega-3 fatty acids for bipolar disorder; 2008
- "Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica"; Folic acid efficacy as an alternative drug added to sodium valproate in the treatment of acute phase of mania in bipolar disorder: a double-blind randomized controlled trial; A.H. Behzadi et al.; Dec. 2009
