Magnesium. Magnesium may help ease manic episode symptoms of irritability, anxiety, and insomnia for people already deficient in it.
Answer From Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D. Vitamin B-12 and other B vitamins play a role in producing brain chemicals that affect mood and other brain functions. Low levels of B-12 and other B vitamins such as vitamin B-6 and folate may be linked to depression.
Further, a review of the literature, including 10 published studies, revealed that vitamin D supplementation might improve both depressive and manic symptoms of bipolar patients [45].
Cases of neuropsychiatry disorders due to its deficiency are more common in elderly patients with prevalence of 10–20%. The most common psychiatry symptoms reported in the literature associated with vitamin B12 deficiency was depression, mania, psychotic symptoms, cognitive impairment and delirium.
Magnesium: Magnesium — found in whole grains, beans, and dark leafy vegetables like spinach — has been shown to have an effect similar to lithium, the most common bipolar medication. Upping your intake of magnesium, a natural mood stabilizer, may decrease your need for medication.
The chemicals responsible for controlling the brain's functions are called neurotransmitters, and include noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine. There's some evidence that if there's an imbalance in the levels of 1 or more neurotransmitters, a person may develop some symptoms of bipolar disorder.
To help prevent a manic episode, avoid triggers such as caffeine, alcohol or drug use, and stress. Exercise, eat a balanced diet, get a good night's sleep, and keep a consistent schedule. This can help reduce minor mood swings that can lead to more severe episodes of mania.
There is no cure for bipolar disorder, and changes to the brain can be permanent. However, treatments for bipolar disorder, such as lithium, may have a “normalizing effect” on the brain. The author of a 2015 review concluded that the use of lithium or mood stabilizers is associated with increases in gray matter volume.
Hypomania is a milder version of mania that typically lasts for a shorter period. This is usually a few days, although the length of time can vary. Mania is a more severe form. It typically lasts for a week or longer, unless it is cut short by treatment.
There have been some studies where magnesium was added to other treatments to stop symptoms of mania or rapid cycling. Magnesium can block the entry of too much calcium into cells (it is a natural calcium channel blocker) which may explain why it is helpful with some symptoms of illnesses.
Based on the current data, magnesium taurate and magnesium glycinate are two of the better options that may help those with mental health conditions.
Fish oil can decrease inflammation, which researchers believe may be a key part of bipolar disorder. Adding fish to your diet is one way to increase your omega-3 fatty acid intake.
The results showed that manic episodes led to decreased volume in certain areas of the brain. Bipolar disorder has been linked to various structural brain changes, including most notably progressive grey matter loss in the brain's frontal regions.
The bipolar states of mania and depression have a clear impact on cognitive function. The clinical criteria for mania include distractibility, inappropriate speech and behavior, increased goal-directed behavior, and a tendency to make decisions associated with potential painful consequences.
Taken together this evidence suggests that hyperdopaminergia, induced either by increased dopamine release, dopamine transporter blockade or dopamine receptor stimulation, results in a mania-like phenotype in rodents.
Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, yoga, and guided imagery can be very effective at reducing stress and keeping you on an even keel. A daily relaxation practice can improve your mood and keep depression at bay. Make leisure time a priority.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
They can also be consumed in dietary supplements, such as fish oil, say NIH experts. The rationale Many studies suggest that foods rich in omega-3s or omega-3 supplements improve bipolar symptoms, according to a systematic review published in the May 2022 Nutritional Neuroscience.
Like folic acid, low levels of Vitamin B12 may also be (in part) responsible for triggering manic states. As mentioned previously, vitamin B12 also plays a role in the creation of many of the mood-regulating brain chemicals (GABA, Serotonin, Dopamine, and others).
Results: Release of GH in the manic patients was significantly enhanced and their baseline cortisol levels were elevated. Conclusions: These results demonstrate enhanced pyridostigmine/GH responsiveness in mania which may be due to enhanced somatostatin tone or increased cholinergic receptor responsivity.
Lack of sleep increases the risk of having an episode of mania in someone with bipolar disorder. In addition, antidepressants, particularly when taken as the only medication, may also trigger a switch into a manic state. Excessive use of alcohol or drugs can also trigger bipolar symptoms.