Accidental Bipolar Remission Led to First European Keto Trial

Greetings,

This week, the primary findings of a first-of-its-kind European clinical trial were published by a research team out of the University of Edinburgh. The team, which included Dr. Iain Campbell, Daniel Smith, MD, FRCPsych, Chair of Psychiatry, and Harry Campbell, MD, FRSE, FMedSci, explored the use of a ketogenic diet for bipolar disorder.

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The results from this study demonstrate improvements in metabolic markers like weight loss, BMI, and blood pressure, as well as correlations between ketosis and improvements in anxiety, impulsivity, mood, and energy. What truly made this study so unique, though, was the use of advanced neuroimaging technology that allowed the researchers to visually see changes in brain metabolism, revealing a potential mechanism for how ketogenic diets may help stabilize mood and improve mental health.

For Dr. Campbell, the study represents much more than just an academic pursuit. It’s rooted in his personal journey through years of debilitating bipolar depression. “I felt that life was becoming too painful to be alive,” he shares. “I try to explain that bipolar depression feels much more like a form of oxygen deprivation than ‘sadness.’ To be alive felt painful, like a constant struggle to keep my head above water.”

In the midst of this despair, Dr. Campbell resolved to take control of the only thing he felt he could—his physical health. “I realized that I wouldn’t survive much longer, so I made a last-ditch attempt to improve my physical health by losing weight.” He started the Atkins diet, unaware that it was actually a form of ketogenic diet. To his surprise, the change was almost immediate. “I remember sitting on the bus on the way to work shortly after beginning the diet, and for the first time, I felt the distinct sensation of relief from decades of this physiological and mental health crisis. It was like taking my first deep breath of oxygen and I felt the relief permeating throughout my mind and body. I did not understand what was happening. My mind became clear, calm, and objective. To echo the words of Dr Mary Newport, it felt like the lights in my brain clicked back on. Whole networks were coming back online like the lights of a city grid.”

As Dr. Campbell continued in ketosis, he began to notice a consistent pattern. “Over the coming weeks, I noticed a correlation between my ketone levels and improvements in symptoms. I tested going out of ketosis and back in several times…I felt the return of my symptoms after 2-3 days out of ketosis and relief when transitioning back into ketosis again. I knew from this point on that I would spend the rest of my life studying this.”

Despite initial grant rejections, Dr. Campbell continued his journey by self-publishing his findings and sharing patient experiences. His voice was eventually heard, and with the support of the University of Edinburgh and Baszucki Group, Dr. Campbell launched this pilot trial that is now setting the stage for further research in metabolic psychiatry.

We’re excited to see groundbreaking publications like this one highlight the potential of ketogenic therapies in mental health. With dedicated researchers like Dr. Campbell, whose work is driven by personal experience and resilience, we’re hopeful that studies like this will continue to advance the essential field of metabolic psychiatry.

Warm regards,

Bret Scher

Metabolic Mind