UCLA Health is set to begin a multi-site pilot study to explore whether a ketogenic diet, when combined with mood stabilizing medications, helps stabilize mood symptoms in teenagers and young adults who have bipolar disorder.
Preliminary research on the effects of a ketogenic diet in people with bipolar disorder have shown improvements in mood and in overall executive function, but these open trials have been limited to adults. This will be the first study conducted on the diet’s effects among youth and young adults with bipolar disorder.
Set to begin in March, the 16-week pilot study will recruit adolescents and young adults ages 12-21 with bipolar 1, bipolar 2 or unspecified bipolar disorders. The roughly 40 participants will go on a 16-week ketogenic diet while continuing their standard mood…