A strict LCHF diet has successfully been used as treatment for epilepsy (particularly in children, but also in adults). There are no doubts about the positive effect, that has been proven in study after study.
A similar ketogenic diet may possibly have positive effects when it comes to other diseases of the brain. This is something that is discussed and studied concerning, among others, Alzheimer’s disease. Many people also experience a significant improvement in their migraine symptoms. There are even a few case reports of dramatic effects on schizofrenia!
A reader e-mailed me an exciting story about her bipolar disorder:
The e-mail
Hi!
I have previously written to you about bipolar disorder and a potential effect from an LCHF diet. I am bipolar and have actually been able to stop taking lithium, Lamictal, Seroquel, sleeping pills, oxazepam etc. since I put myself (doctor upset and angry) on an LCHF diet, Vitamin D, magnesium (attaches to the same receptors as lithium), omega-3 supplements (there are studies on bipolar patients showing very good results with omega-3 supplementation). Strictly gluten free, as there are studies on this too. OK – I know I can’t find out exactly what, or which combination, is successful when I do them all at the same time, but as bad as I felt on all the medications, and as many relapses that I suffered, I don’t care.
I am now completely healthy! No drugs and no relapses for more than six months (my relapses used to be very frequent, almost continuous). I haven’t felt this good in ten years!!!
I adopted an LCHF diet (despite having studied medicine and nutrition), because of the fact that epileptics are helped by ketones and bipolar patients by antiepileptic drugs.
And look what I found today!!!!!Neurocase: The ketogenic diet for type II bipolar disorder
All the best! Happy, healthy greetings from
Åsa
Commentary
Congratulations on your success, Åsa!
Similar stories of course have to be taken with a big grain of salt. We can’t know with certainty that an LCHF diet had anything to do with the improvement, and we certainly don’t know if the same thing would happen to others.
That said, I think the argument is logical. An LCHF diet helps with epilepsy, and people with bipolar disorder are often successfully treated with antiepileptic drugs.
The new scientific paper, that Åsa refers to, discusses the ideas behind this in more detail, and presents case reports on two additional patients that have successfully treated their bipolar disorder with a strict LCHF diet.
As medications for bipolar disorder often come with nasty side effects (such as weight gain and reduced mental clarity) it would be fantastic if some patients could manage with a diet intervention. Or at least decrease their need for medication in this way.
What do you think?
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