Diet, weight may affect treatment response in bipolar disorder

Type of diet and weight affects response to treatment in bipolar disorder

Response to bipolar disorder treatment may change with body weight and overall quality of the patient’s diet. A diet high in foods thought to contribute to general inflammation, have a particularly powerful effect.

Findings of the clinical trial were presented at the 31st European College of Neuropsychopharmacology conference in Barcelona.

Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic depressive disorder or manic depression is characterised by episodes of extreme swings in thinking, mood and behaviour, between being very up (mania) or very down (depression). The fact that there are two opposite sets of symptoms means that finding an effective treatment is difficult. While current medications are useful, they are better at targeting mania symptoms (the ‘up’ phase), leaving a lack of effective treatment for people experiencing depressive episodes.

Now a group of Australian, German and American scientists have shown those who have a high quality diet, a less inflammatory diet, and/or a low BMI (Body Mass Index) may respond better to an add-on nutraceutical treatment provided as part of a clinical trial.

A total of 133 participants were randomly assigned to take a combination of nutraceuticals (compounds derived from foods such as vitamins or minerals that treat or prevent a disease or disorder) including the anti-inflammatory amino acid n-acetylcysteine (NAC), or NAC alone, or a placebo (a dummy pill) for 16 weeks.

People who had a better-quality diet, a diet with anti-inflammatory properties, or a lower BMI, showed better response to add-on nutraceutical treatment

BMI of all participants were measured at the beginning of the study. Level of depression was assessed by analyzing a person’s ability to carry out normal daily life. Researchers also rated whether a participant was improving and, if so, how much, over the next 20 weeks.

Participants filled in a questionnaire about what they usually eat over the year and researchers calculated a diet quality score, where good diets included a healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables. Poorer-quality diets had more saturated fat, refined carbohydrates and alcohol. Their diets were then categorised as either anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory based on foods that affect inflammation.

Participants continued to receive any previous regular medications in addition to the study medication.

“We found that people who had a better-quality diet, a diet with anti-inflammatory properties, or a lower BMI, showed better response to add-on nutraceutical treatment than did those who reported a low-quality diet, or a diet including foods that promote inflammation, or who were overweight,” said lead researcher Melanie Ashton of Deakin University in Australia.