Regulating fatty acid intake may contribute to mood changes in people with bipolar disorder

Can specific dietary guidelines help people with bipolar disorder better manage their health? Maybe one day, according to a new study by researchers at the Pennsylvania State University School of Medicine

Bipolar disorder affects 2.

"As clinicians, we understand that if we can help patients better control these symptoms between episodes, we can help reduce the number of times they relapse into acute episodes," Pennsylvania State University Health Milton S.

Saunders and her colleagues devised a diet to change the levels of certain polyunsaturated fatty acids—many foods contain this nutrient—that participants consume when participating in the routine treatment of bipolar disorder, including Mood stabilizing drugs

The researchers hypothesized that by changing the type and amount of fatty acids ingested, the body will produce metabolites with specific purposes, such as reducing pain or inflammation

More than 80 patients with bipolar disorder participated in the diet consultation and received specific foods over a 12-week period

"At present, we cannot recommend this diet to patients with bipolar disorder, although we have found that this diet is safe," Saunders said, noting that follow-up studies are needed

In the future, the research team will continue to evaluate how fatty acid metabolites affect pain in patients with bipolar disorder

Sanders said: "This diet is not suitable for people with bipolar disorder, they are experiencing acute, severe depression or mania

DOI

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