Cutting out carbohydrates might do more than just help with weight loss. A recent study suggests that a ketogenic diet could lessen the symptoms of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Researchers at Stanford Medicine conducted a small pilot trial involving 21 adults—16 with bipolar disorder and 5 with schizophrenia. Over four months, participants followed a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet known as the ketogenic diet.
By the end of the study, most participants showed significant improvements:
- On average, there was a 31% improvement on a standard psychiatric rating scale. About three-quarters of the participants experienced meaningful enhancements in their overall mental health.
- Participants lost an average of 10% of their body weight, reduced their waist circumference by 11%, and had lower blood pressure, blood sugar, and insulin resistance.
- Many reported better sleep, increased energy, and greater life satisfaction.
Why Might the Keto Diet Help?
Traditional medications for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia can sometimes lead to weight gain and insulin resistance. The ketogenic diet, which is high in fats and low in carbohydrates, encourages the body to burn fat for energy instead of glucose from carbs. This process produces ketones, which may help stabilize brain neurons.
Dr. Shebani Sethi, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford Medicine, explained, “The ketogenic diet has been proven effective for treatment-resistant epileptic seizures by reducing the excitability of neurons in the brain. We thought it would be worth exploring this treatment in psychiatric conditions.”
Participants shared their positive experiences:
- One person said, “It can honestly save a lot of lives; it saved mine. I would not be here today if it wasn’t for keto. It’s helped a lot with my mood stabilization.”
- Another mentioned, “I have never felt better than I have since using ketosis. It worked far better than the medication I was taking.”
The researchers hope these findings will encourage more studies into how dietary changes can support mental health treatment. Dr. Sethi noted, “Many of my patients suffer from both illnesses, so my desire was to see if metabolic interventions could help them. They are seeking more help. They are looking to just feel better.”
Sethi, S., Wakeham, D., Ketter, T., Hooshmand, F., Bjornstad, J., Richards, B., Westman, E., Krauss, R. M., & Saslow, L. (2024). Ketogenic Diet Intervention on Metabolic and Psychiatric Health in bipolar and schizophrenia: a pilot trial. Psychiatry Research, 335, 115866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115866
Pilot study shows ketogenic diet improves severe mental illness. (2024, April 1). News Center. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2024/04/keto-diet-mental-illness.html
