Nutritional approaches and bipolar disorder
Insufficient evidence – there either hasn’t been any research on this treatment option or there is a small amount of evidence with unclear conclusions.
There is no evidence that nutritional approaches such as supplements or special diets are useful as a treatment for bipolar mania or bipolar depression in adults, and there has been little research in children and young people.
There is some emerging evidence in adults about using a specific diet to reduce mood variability while they were also taking medication. However, there is little evidence in young people, and it is important to keep in mind that children and young people have different nutritional requirements to adults.
However, a healthy diet is important for your general health and recovery. Dietary advice is especially important if you are taking medication that might cause weight gain.
Treatments outlined on these webpages may not be available in every local area. It’s important that you discuss with your GP or mental health professional the treatment options available to you. You can also search for services near you on our Youth Wellbeing Directory and find out more about referral processes here.