Bipolar Nutrition Therapy Research

Date:   5/25/2017 4:14:58 PM ( 7 y ago)

May 4, 2018 - Jon Rapport's Article Indicates A Need to Rethink "Bipolar Disorder" -

Under the radar, one of the great psychiatric stars, who has been out in front inventing mental disorders, went public. He blew the whistle on himself and his colleagues. And for years, almost no one noticed.

His name is Dr. Allen Frances, and he made VERY interesting statements to Gary Greenberg, author of a Wired article: “Inside the Battle to Define Mental Illness.” (Dec.27, 2010).

Major media never picked up on the interview in any serious way. It never became a scandal.

Dr. Allen Frances is the man who, in 1994, headed up the project to write the latest edition of the psychiatric bible, the DSM-IV. This tome defines and labels and describes every official mental disorder. The DSM-IV eventually listed 297 of them.

In an April 19, 1994, New York Times piece, “Scientist At Work,” Daniel Goleman called Frances “Perhaps the most powerful psychiatrist in America at the moment…”

Well, sure. If you’re sculpting the entire canon of diagnosable mental disorders for your colleagues, for insurers, for the government, for Pharma (who will sell the drugs matched up to the 297 DSM-IV diagnoses), you’re right up there in the pantheon.

Long after the DSM-IV had been put into print, Dr. Frances talked to Wired’s Greenberg and said the following:

“There is no definition of a mental disorder. It’s bullshit. I mean, you just can’t define it.”

BANG.

That’s on the order of the designer of the Hindenburg, looking at the burned rubble on the ground, remarking, “Well, I knew there would be a problem.”

After a suitable pause, Dr. Frances remarked to Greenberg, “These concepts [of distinct mental disorders] are virtually impossible to define precisely with bright lines at the borders.”

Frances might have been obliquely referring to the fact that his baby, the DSM-IV, had rearranged earlier definitions of ADHD and Bipolar to permit many MORE diagnoses, leading to a vast acceleration of drug-dosing with highly powerful and toxic compounds.[21]
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More research required! Nevertheless - the nutrition and dietary suggestions presented here still stand as reasonable considerations far above the "toxic compounds" found in all "drug-dosing".
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"Up your intake of essential omega-3 fats -

This means eating fish at least twice a week, ... and supplementing omega-3 fish oils. The best fish for EPA, the type of omega-3 fat that’s linked with improving mood, are:

Mackerel (1,400mg per 100g/3oz) Herring/kipper (1,000mg) Sardines (1,000mg),fresh tuna (900mg), Anchovy (900mg), Salmon (800mg),Trout (500mg). Tuna, being high in mercury is best eaten not more than three times a month.

The best seeds are flax seeds and pumpkin seeds. Flax seeds are so small they are best ground and sprinkled on cereal. Alternatively, use flax seed oil, for example in salad dressings. While technically providing omega-3 only about 5% of the type of omega-3 (alpha linolenic acid) in these seeds is converted in your body into EPA.

When supplementing omega 3 fish oils you are aiming for about 1,000mg of EPA a day for a mood balancing effect. That means supplementing a concentrated omega-3 Fish Oil capsule providing 500mg, once or twice a day and eating a serving of any of the above fish three times a week.

Avoid or reduce caffeine, sugar, refined carbohydrates and alcohol -

Eat a diet that will stabilise your blood sugar (known as a Low GL diet). This means avoiding sugar and refined carbohydrates, eating at regular intervals, including protein with every meal and snack. Avoid strong stimulants such as coffee, tea and energy drinks and drink mild stimulants such as green tea only occasionally. Keep alcohol to a minimum, for example, one unit per day, three to four times per week.

Consider supplementing magnesium -

Foods high in magnesium are: whole grains, legumes and especially dark green leafy vegetables. Pumpkin seeds and salmon also have magnesium. It is worth supplementing magnesium, particularly if you have some of the other indications of insufficiency. Try 400mg daily. Magnesium works in conjunction with many other nutrients so an all-round multi-vitamin and mineral formula is a good idea if you are not managing a fantastically healthy diet.

...
Further reading:

Optimum Nutrition for the Mind
Patrick Holford, 2010
Optimum Nutrition for the Mind is the classic guide to improving your mood, boosting your memory, sharpening your mind and solving mental health problems through nutrition.

The Bipolar Child
Dr D Papolos and J Papolos, 2007
This book comprehensively details the diagnosis of biploar disorder, explains how to find good treatment and medications, and advises parents about ways to advocate effectively for their children in school. This book contains ideas for parents and educators to help the children feel more comfortable in the academic environment. It also contains information about hospitalization, the importance of neuropsychological testing (with a recommendeded battery of tests) and the world of insurance. Also included is information on promising new drugs and advances taking place in the field of molecular genetics.

The Mood Cure
Julia Ross, 2009
This book focuses on a nutritional plan that the author has used successfully in her own clinic using specific foods and supplements that can lift dark moods and emotions in less then 24 hours. It works by restoring the body's natural chemical balance, thereby relieving mood-related symptoms, such as depression, PMS, stress, low self-esteem, irritability and SAD."[16]

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A Solution for Treating Bipolar Disorder -
"...I have yet to find in thirteen years of practice the absence of gut dysbiosis in those suffering from psychological or psychiatric challenges."[17]

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Gut And Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) -
"First and foremost, treat the digestive disorder. Every so-called psychological and mental disorder is a digestive disorder at its core—whether it is schizophrenia, bipolar, obsessive-compulsive behavior, substance abuse, depression or just a cranky teenager—look first at their digestive system."[18]

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Bi-Polar Nutrition Therapy Research

Bipolar Disorder -

“A patient suffering from major depression may also present symptoms such as recurring episodes of debilitating depression, uncontrollable mania, hypomania, or a mixed state (a manic and depressive episode) which is clinically diagnosed as bipolar disorder [1]. Some biochemical abnormalities in people with bipolar disorder include oversensitivity to acetylcholine, excess vanadium, vitamin B deficiencies, a taurine deficiency, anemia, omega-3 fatty acid deficiencies, and vitamin C deficiency.

Bipolar patients tend to have excess acetylcholine receptors, which is a major cause of depression and mania [2,3]. Bipolar patients also produce elevated levels of vanadium, which causes mania, depression, and melancholy [4,5]. However, vitamin C has been shown to protect the body from the damage caused by excess vanadium. A double-blind, placebo controlled study that involved controlling elevated vanadium levels showed that a single 3 g dose of vitamin C decreases manic symptoms in comparison to placebo [5].

Taurine is an amino acid made in the liver from cysteine that is known to play a role in the brain by eliciting a calming effect. A deficiency of this amino acid may increase a bipolar patient's manic episodes. In addition, eighty percent of bipolar sufferers have some vitamin B deficiencies (often accompanied by anemia) [6]. The combination of essential vitamin supplements with the body's natural supply of lithium reduces depressive and manic symptoms of patients suffering from bipolar disorder [7].

Another well-known factor for mental disorders is that cells within the brain require omega-3 oils in order to be able to transmit signals that enable proper thinking, moods, and emotions. However, omega-3 oils are often present at very low levels in most Americans and bipolar sufferers [8]. Numerous clinical trials, including double-blind, placebo controlled studies have been performed which show that 1 to 2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids in the form of EPA added to one's daily intake decreases manic/depressive symptoms better than placebo (See Table
Table1
1).

Prescription lithium is in the form of lithium carbonate, and doses can be as high as 180 mg. It is these high doses that are responsible for most of lithium's adverse side effects. Some of the more common side effects include a dulled personality, reduced emotions, memory loss, tremors, or weight gain. Another form of lithium called lithium orotate, is preferred because the orotate ion crosses the blood-brain barrier more easily than the carbonate ion of lithium carbonate. Therefore, lithium orotate can be used in much lower doses (e.g. 5 mg) with remarkable results and no side effects [9,10]. Clinical trials involving 150 mg daily doses of lithium orotate administered 4 to 5 times a week, showed a reduction of manic and depressive symptoms in bipolar patients [10]. In addition, lithium orotate is available without a prescription, unlike lithium carbonate, which is considered a prescription drug by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Studies have also shown that the amino acid-derivative, taurine, as an alternative to lithium, blocks the effects of excess acetylcholine that contributes to bipolar disorder [11].

Numerous studies for bipolar disorder have been published that list specific lifestyle changes as well as amounts of dietary supplements that can be used to treat this disorder."[15]

Weston A. Price Foundation:

“Low B12 levels at any age cause brain shrinkage and cognitive decline, even within the lower “normal range,” resulting in inflammation of brain myelin. Bi-polar disorder and other mental illnesses may be a result of B12 deficiency, as well as other factors.”[12]

“Copper is stimulating to the brain, causing it to produce high levels of the activating neurotransmitters, like serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine. This is why you will see copper toxicity in manic states like paranoid schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder. The so-called copper head tends to be very emotional, very intense, often very creative. Such individuals are prone to crash and burn because their overactive mind is being supported by a very fatigued body.”[13]

“The body will begin storing the excess copper in the brain as the liver becomes overloaded. Copper stimulates the diencephalon, which is the emotional brain. Zinc stimulates the cortex, the new brain, the rational mind, and is calming to the emotions. Thus, copper-toxic people often keep themselves in a state of high drama, and their symptoms can even mimic bi-polar syndrome. Carl Pfeiffer, PhD, MD, has found that one-half to two-thirds of schizophrenics have high levels of copper and low levels of zinc and magnesium, especially during acute phases. Copper has an adverse effect on methylation, a metabolic pathway that is essential for detoxification and for controlling free-radical activity. Poor methylation can be an important factor in cases of autism and schizophrenia.”[14]

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January 23, 2018 -

The J.J. Virgin[19] interview on the Broken Brain documentary[20] regarding saving her son's life after a very traumatic brain injury where "prior to this, early on (he) had bipolar disorder" which turned out to be in his favor as you'll read here:

It's 1.7 million people a year getting a traumatic brain injury. This is a major problem. Over 5 million people are disabled at any time in the US with it. You can turn it around and you can turn it around anytime. If you hurt your head five years ago, you can still massively improve it, but it's got to start with asking the right questions. For me, it was how do I get my son to be 110%. Then looking at every single thing that's out there that I could bring in to help him. I was looking at in preparing for this interview of like what did we do? It's this huge long list of things.
Now within that, I can tell you the things that were most successful for us, but that's us. It may be different for someone else, but it's asking that right question that made all the difference. My son, prior to this, early on had bipolar disorder. He still has bipolar disorder, but that led me down the path in the first place and ultimately probably saved his life because he was on a high dose of fish oil to start with that we've done for the bipolar disorder.

J.J. concludes her interview with:
My son was basically dead on the street. The doctors told us to let him die. They didn't think he'd ever wake up. They didn't think he'd ever walk. They didn't think he'd ever hear. He's now better than he was before the accident, and he'll continue to get better. Now he knows that his purpose is to show people what's possible. The biggest limiter to what's possible is our mindset that tells us we can't do it, but if you flip that around and go, "Okay. What do I need to do to be 110%," and you open yourself up to possibility, anything is.
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Notes:

[1] Rihmer Z, Gonda X, Rihmer A. Creativity and mental illness. Psychiatr Hung. 2006;21:288–294. [PubMed]
[2] Skutsch GM. Manic depression–a disorder of central dopaminergic rhythm. Med Hypotheses. 1981;7:737–746. doi: 10.1016/0306-9877(81)90085-2. [PubMed] [Cross Ref]
[3] Skutsch GM. Manic depression: a multiple hormone disorder? Biol Psychiatry. 1985;20:662–668. doi: 10.1016/0006-3223(85)90101-5. [PubMed] [Cross Ref]
[4] Naylor GJ. Vanadium and manic depressive psychosis. Nutr Health. 1984;3:79–85. [PubMed]
[5] Naylor GJ, Smith AH. Vanadium: a possible aetiological factor in manic depressive illness. Psychol Med. 1981;11:249–256. [Pu[M]ed]
[6] Botiglieri T. Folate, vitamin B12, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Nutr Rev. 1996;54:382–390. [PubMed]
[7] Hasanah CI, Khan UA, Musalmah M, Razali SM. Reduced red-cell folate in mania. J Affect Disord. 1997;46:95–99. doi: 10.1016/S0165-0327(97)00096-7. [PubMed] [Cross Ref]
[8] Osher Y, Bersudsky Y, Belmaker RH. Omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid in bipolar depression: report of a small open-label study. 2005;66:726–729. [PubMed]
[9] Nieper HA. The clinical applications of lithium orotate. A two years study. Agressologie. 1973;14:407–411. [PubMed]
[10] Sartori HE. Lithium orotate in the treatment of alcoholism and related conditions. Alcohol. 1986;3:97–100. doi: 10.1016/0741-8329(86)90018-2. [PubMed] [Cross Ref]
[11] O'Donnell T, Rotzinger S, Ulrich M, Hanstock CC, Nakashima TT, Silverstone PH. Effects of chronic lithium and sodium valproate on concentrations of brain amino acids. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2003;13:220–227. doi: 10.1016/S0924-977X(03)00070-1. [PubMed] [Cross Ref]
[12] https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/abcs-of-nutrition/nutrition-the-anti-aging-factor/

[13] https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/mental-emotional-health/metals-and-the-mind/

[14] IBID

[15] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2248201/

[16] http://www.foodforthebrain.org/nutrition-solutions/bipolar-disorder/action-plan-for-bipolar-disorder.aspx

[17] https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/mental-emotional-health/getting-at-the-gut/

[18] https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/childrens-health/gut-and-psychology-syndrome-gaps/

[19] New York Times Best Selling Author of The Virgin Diet

[20] https://brokenbrain.com/

[21] https://jonrappoport.wordpress.com/2018/05/03/psychiatry-and-the-great-fraud/

Also: https://psychcentral.com/lib/bipolar-disorder-and-nutrition/

 

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