Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that can have devastating effects if left untreated. In addition to traditional treatments for the disease, some patients may want to supplement treatment with vitamins and minerals. Zinc and vitamin B-6 have both been associated with bipolar disorder, but more research needs to be done. If you have bipolar disorder, talk with your doctor about whether it is safe for you to add these supplements to your treatment plan.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder may also be called manic depression, and is a mental illness that affects mood, energy levels and day-to-day living. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, or NIMH, this illness typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood, with half of all diagnoses being made before age 25. People with bipolar disorder experience mood changes that include manic episodes and depressive episodes; when the two moods occur concurrently, it is called a mixed episode. This illness is not curable, but it can typically be treated with medication and psychotherapy.
Zinc and Bipolar Disorder
Zinc is the second most common mineral in the human body. It and aids in wound healing, boosts the immune system and plays a role in thyroid functioning, blood clotting and proper insulin functioning. Zinc levels may be abnormal in people with bipolar disorder. A 2010 study published in the "Indian Journal of Psychiatry" by M.S. Mustak, et al., found that levels of zinc in patients with bipolar disease were lower than the control group. Conversely, a 2011 study by M. Gonzales-Estecha, et al., published in the "Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology," found that zinc levels were elevated during a manic phase in patients with bipolar disorder. More research needs to be done on the associations between zinc and bipolar disorder. Ask your doctor whether zinc supplements may be appropriate for you.
Vitamin B-6 and Bipolar Disorder
This vitamin not only helps the body convert food to energy, but it also aids in the production of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters that influence mood. Low levels of vitamin B-6 have been found in people with depression, but supplementation showed no effect on depressive symptoms, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. More research needs to be done on depression and B-6. If you have bipolar disorder, talk with your health care provider about vitamin B-6 supplementation and whether it may benefit you.
Considerations
Vitamin and mineral supplements are not meant to be the primary treatment for bipolar disorder; they are meant to support the therapy that your doctor has prescribed. If you are considering taking zinc and B-6 supplements, talk with your doctor about what dosages are safe for you, and tell her about any other medications or supplements you may be taking, to avoid adverse interactions.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health; Bipolar Disorder; August 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Zinc; Dr. Steven Ehrlich; June 2009
- PubMed.gov; "Indian Journal of Psychiatry"; Evidence of Altered DNA Integrity in the Brain Regions of Suicidal Victims of Bipolar Depression; M.S. Mustak, et al.; 2010
- PubMed.gov; "Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology"; M Gonzalez-Estecha, et al.; 2011
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B6
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