Scientists from Stanford University of Medicine found that the ketogenic diet (eating a diet with minimal carbohydrates in the diet) can improve the mental health of people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. published In the journal Psychiatric Research (PsyRes).
21 adult volunteers diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder participated in the study. The participants also had several metabolic disorders, including obesity and overweight, insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia (excessive triglycerides in the blood), dyslipidemia (abnormally high or low levels of lipids in the body), and impaired glucose tolerance (latent diabetes).
Participants were told to follow a ketogenic diet in which approximately 10% of daily calories come from carbohydrates, 30% from protein, and 60% from fats. The research team monitored participants’ adherence to the diet by measuring their blood ketone levels weekly. Ketones are acids produced when fats are broken down instead of glucose for energy. Participants also underwent various psychiatric examinations throughout the experiment.
After the dietary intervention ended, the researchers found that the subjects’ blood pressure, body mass index, triglyceride and blood sugar levels, and measures of insulin resistance decreased. Additionally, participants showed clinically meaningful reductions in symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. They also reported better quality sleep and greater life satisfaction.
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