The ketogenic diet, which was developed in the1920s as a treatment of seizures in children, features a high intake of fat. There is no evidence that high intakes of fat can cure bipolar disorder. However, omega-3 fatty acids, which can be found in fatty fish, can stabilize bipolar disorder in some patients. So, a version of the ketogenic diet that focuses on omega-3 fatty acids may minimize mood swings in bipolar patients.
An Old Cure of Epilepsy
In the 1920s, before anti-convulsion medicines became widely available, physicians discovered that a diet extremely high in fat could reduce the frequency and intensity of seizures, and in some cases, prevent them altogether. The diet, which is now known as "the ketogenic diet," was used primarily to treat seizures in children. One reason that it wasn't used as a treatment of seizures in adults was that the diet, as prescribed, required strict monitoring of food, which only a third party was able to do. The original version of the diet allowed only very limited amounts of carbohydrates and a minimum of proteins required for body maintenance. The rest of the calorie intake came from fat.
The New Ketogenic Diet and Ketosis
The ketogenic diet is still prescribed for patients who do not get adequate relief from anti-convulsion medicines. In some cases, a modified version of the diet, which does not restrict the intake of calories, is prescribed instead of the strict version of the ketogenic diet. All versions of the diet work by forcing the brain to use a different kind of fuel. Glucose is the standard fuel. Glucose comes primarily from carbohydrates, but proteins can also be converted into glucose. As the ketonic diet restricts carbohydrates and protein, there is not enough glucose available for the brain to function. The brain can, however, use a different fuel known as "ketone bodies." These molecules are produced during fat metabolism. Though it is still unclear what exactly the mechanism of action is, it is known that ketone bodies stabilize neurons enough to prevent them from becoming over-excited.
Bipolar Disorder and Ketosis
Bipolar disorder is a condition in which your moods shift between depression and mania, usually manifested as a state of hyper-activity or irritability. Bipolar disorder was first successfully treated with lithium salts, the first medication available for the treatment of psychological disorders. Since bipolar disorder is a condition consisting in over-excitement, and seizures stem from an over-excitement of the brain, it is tempting to think that the ketogenic diet may be effective in the treatment of bipolar disorder. There is, however, no evidence that ketogenic diets as such can treat bipolar disorder.
Omega-3 and Bipolar Disorder
It has been known for some time that omega-3 fatty acids, which can be found in fatty fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines, as well as wild game and walnuts, can be effective in controlling the mood swings that occur in patients with bipolar disorder. A study published in the May 2010 issue of "The Journal of Lipid Research" shows that it is no coincidence that both lithium salts and omega-3 fatty acids can have a positive effect on bipolar disorder. Apparently, lithium salts control omega-3 fatty acids in the brain. This suggests a potential role for a modified version of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of bipolar disorder. A ketogenic diet that consists mostly of fatty fish and fish oil may be able to prevent the mood swings of bipolar disorder. This claim, however, has not yet been scientifically proved.
