UCLA Health should start a multi-site pilot study to explore if a ketogenic diet, when combined with mood stabilization drugs, helps stabilize mood symptoms in adolescents and adults with adults suffering from Bipolar disorder.
Preliminary research on the effects of a ketogenic diet in people with bipolar disorder has shown improvements in mood and overall executive function, but these open trials have been limited to adults. This will be the first study on the effects of diet in young people and young adults with bipolar disorder.
To start in March, the 16 -week pilot study will recruit adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 21 with bipolar bipolar disorders 1, bipolar 2 or not specified. The approximately 40 participants will follow a 16 -week ketogenic diet while continuing their stabilizing stabilizing drugs. Independent assessors will assess participants each month for depression, mania, anxiety, psychosis, psychosocial functioning and quality of life. In addition, participants will provide daily blood samples to measure metabolic indicators. Researchers in partnership will provide food for participants at no cost. All participants will work with registered dietitists, psychiatrists and psychologists affiliated with the study.
In addition to determining whether the diet will stabilize the moods of the participants, the pilot test will also test if adolescents and young adults really respect the diet.
We want to show that it is first possible. Before testing treatment in a randomized trial, you want to know if people will do it and there is a signal for its effectiveness. “”
Dr David Miklowitz, distinguished professor of psychiatry In the Children’s Psychiatry Division, the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior
Miklowitz said that if the pilot study shows that the diet is achievable in young people with bipolar disorder, additional research would be necessary to test the effects of ketogenic therapy against comparison treatment, as a strictly Mediterranean diet.
UCLA Health will serve as a coordination research site, with other participating sites, including the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine and the University of Colorado. The study is funded by the Baszucki family foundation.