The Study
A pilot study of a ketogenic diet in bipolar disorder: clinical, metabolic and magnetic resonance spectroscopy findings
This study watched what happened when 27 people with bipolar disorder tried a special low-carb diet for a couple of months. It saw some changes, like weight loss and better mood reports, but it didn't compare them to people who didn't try the diet. So we can't say the diet caused those changes — it might just be coincidence.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Scientists tested if a super low-carb, high-fat diet could help people with bipolar disorder who aren't currently depressed or manic.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 544 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1The mood improvements were subtle and only noticed by participants daily, not by standard clinical tools — so it's unclear if this would help someone feel significantly better in real life.
- 2People lost 4.2 kg on average, their blood pressure dropped by 7.4 mmHg, and when their blood ketones went up, they reported feeling better, more energetic, less impulsive, and less anxious — but their official mood tests didn't change.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
BJPsych Open
Year
2025
Authors
Iain H. Campbell, Nicole Needham, Helen Grossi, Ivana Kamenska, Saturnino Luz, Shane Sheehan, Gerard Thompson, Michael J. Thrippleton, Melissa C. Gibbs, Joana Leitao, Tessa Moses, Karl Burgess, Benjamin P. Rigby, Sharon A. Simpson, Emma McIntosh, Rachel Brown, Ben Meadowcroft, Frances Creasy, Maja Mitchell-Grigorjeva, John Norrie, Ailsa McLellan, Cheryl Fisher, Tomasz Zieliński, Giulia Gaggioni, Harry Campbell, Daniel J. Smith
Related Content
Claims (5)
A ketogenic diet followed for 6 to 8 weeks does not change mood scores in adults with bipolar disorder who are not currently experiencing mania or depression.
In adults with bipolar disorder who are not currently experiencing mood episodes, following a ketogenic diet for 6 to 8 weeks is associated with a measurable decrease in glutamate and glutamine levels in two brain regions involved in mood regulation.
In adults with bipolar disorder who are not experiencing mood episodes, a ketogenic diet for 6 to 8 weeks is associated with an average weight loss of 4.2 kilograms and a drop in systolic blood pressure of 7.4 millimeters of mercury.
In adults with bipolar disorder who are not currently experiencing mood episodes, higher levels of ketones in the blood are associated with slightly higher self-reported mood and energy, and lower self-reported impulsivity and anxiety.
Current scientific evidence does not support ketogenic diets as an effective treatment for bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.