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The ketogenic diet for type II bipolar disorder
James R Phelps1, Susan V Siemers, Rif S El-Mallakh
1a PsychEducation.org and Samaritan Mental Health , Corvallis , OR , USA.
Neurocase
|October 4, 2012
Summary
The ketogenic diet may stabilize mood in bipolar II disorder by reducing intracellular sodium. Two women experienced significant mood improvement and tolerated the diet well for years.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Metabolic Disorders
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Mood stabilizing treatments often reduce intracellular sodium.
- Blood acidification, achievable via ketogenic diet, may also reduce intracellular sodium.
- Type II bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by depressive and hypomanic episodes.
Observation:
- Two women with type II bipolar disorder adopted a ketogenic diet.
- They maintained ketosis for extended periods (2 and 3 years).
Findings:
- Both patients experienced mood stabilization superior to medication.
- Mood improvement was subjectively linked to ketosis.
- The ketogenic diet was well-tolerated with no significant adverse effects.
Implications:
- The ketogenic diet presents a potentially sustainable option for managing type II bipolar disorder.
- Acidic plasma may stabilize mood by modulating intracellular sodium and calcium levels.
- Further research into ketogenic diets for mood disorders is warranted.
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