Is a vegetarian diet beneficial for bipolar disorder? Relationship between dietary patterns, exercise and pharmacological treatments with metabolic syndrome and course of disease in bipolar disorder

The impact of lifestyle factors on bipolar disorder (BD) is becoming a growing area of research, particularly regarding how these factors might influence the progression of the illness and overall physical health. This study by Gomes‐da‐Costa et al. (2024) aimed to examine the relationships between diet, exercise, medication, and their combined effects on the disease’s progression and metabolic health in individuals with BD. The study involved 66 individuals with BD who were either in a stable or mildly depressive state. The authors evaluated clinical and metabolic outcomes alongside the impact of medication and lifestyle choices (diet and exercise). Few participants adhered to the Mediterranean diet (37.9%), though it was positively linked with improved quality of life. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire rated 32.8% of individuals as low-active, and higher activity levels lead to lower cholesterol levels. High rates of obesity (40.6%) and metabolic syndrome (29.7%) were observed. Lithium users had the most favorable metabolic profiles. Three distinct dietary patterns emerged: “vegetarian,” “omnivore,” and “Western”, of which the authors noted that the “vegetarian” diet was linked to better outcomes, including lower depression scores, improved psychosocial functioning, and quality of life, reduced body mass index, cholesterol, LDL, and diastolic blood pressure. Furthermore, eating nuts was linked to an improved metabolic profile. A vegetarian diet was associated with improved clinical and metabolic outcomes in individuals with BD. Future research should focus on prospective and randomized studies to establish causal links and inform clinical practices. [NPID: Bipolar disorder, lifestyle factors, diet, exercise, metabolic profile, Mediterranean diet, obesity, lithium, vegetarian diet, clinical outcomes]

Year: 2024

Reference: Gomes‐da‐Costa, S., Fernandéz‐Pérez, I., Borras, R., Lopez, N., Rivas, Y., Ruiz, V., Pons‐Cabrera, M. T., Giménez‐Palomo, A., Anmella, G., Valentí, M., Berk, M., Vieta, E., & Pacchiarotti, I. (2024). Is a vegetarian diet beneficial for bipolar disorder? Relationship between dietary patterns, exercise and pharmacological treatments with metabolic syndrome and course of disease in bipolar disorder. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 150(4), 209–222. https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13733