Ketogenic Diet Shows Promise in Mental Health Treatment

Ketogenic Diet Shows Promise in Mental Health Treatment (representative image)

VoM News Desk | April 5, 2024 | 11:05 PM IST | Featured by VoM, Featured Edition, Health, Mental Health | Follow on Google News

Ketogenic Diet Shows Promise in Mental Health Treatment

Ketogenic Diet Shows Promise in Mental Health Treatment

A recent pilot study conducted by doctors at Stanford Medicine suggests that a ketogenic diet could have beneficial effects on mental health, particularly for individuals with severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder who experience metabolic adverse effects from antipsychotic medications.

Published in Psychiatry Research, the study reveals that a ketogenic diet not only restores metabolic health but also improves mental well-being for patients continuing their antipsychotic drug regimen. Lead author Dr. Shebani Sethi, MD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, underscores the promising potential of nutritional interventions in addressing mental health conditions.

The study, which followed 21 adult participants diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, found significant improvements in both metabolic and psychiatric parameters after four months on a ketogenic diet. Participants experienced weight loss, reduced waist circumference, improved blood pressure, and decreased insulin resistance. Psychiatric assessments showed a 31% improvement on a clinical global impressions scale, with notable enhancements in sleep quality and life satisfaction reported by participants.

Dr. Sethi, board certified in obesity and psychiatry, coined the term “metabolic psychiatry” to emphasize the link between metabolic health and mental well-being. The study’s success highlights the potential of metabolic interventions in addressing the complex interplay between mental illness and metabolic abnormalities.

The ketogenic diet, characterized by low carbohydrate intake and high fat consumption, provides ketones as an alternative fuel source for the brain, potentially improving brain metabolism. Dr. Sethi emphasizes the need for larger studies to further explore the mechanisms underlying these effects and guide future interventions.

As founder and director of the metabolic psychiatry clinic at Stanford Medicine, Dr. Sethi aims to provide holistic care for patients suffering from both mental illness and metabolic syndrome, offering hope for improved outcomes and quality of life.

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