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Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham are launching a 6-month pilot study to explore whether a ketogenic diet can improve psychiatric and metabolic outcomes in people with bipolar disorder. Up to 100 participants in rural central Alabama will receive ketogenic food boxes delivered to their homes via a food bank partnership. Early research suggests the diet may boost mood, reduce anxiety, and curb impulsivity.
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham are launching a 6-month pilot study to explore whether a ketogenic diet can improve psychiatric and metabolic outcomes in people with bipolar disorder. The study, funded by the Baszucki Group, will enroll up to 100 participants in rural central Alabama — a region with high demand for mental health care but limited access to services.
To make the intervention accessible, researchers are partnering with the Heart of Alabama Food Bank to deliver ketogenic food boxes — featuring locally raised meats and produce — directly to participants' homes. The study includes four arms: two groups on oral or long-acting injectable bipolar medications, and two matching control groups, all following a ketogenic diet.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: If successful, this study could validate a low-cost, accessible dietary intervention for bipolar disorder — one that could be scaled to underserved communities nationwide.
