Database analysis of children and adolescents with Bipolar Disorder consuming a micronutrient formula

Abstract

BackgroundEleven previous reports have shown potential benefit of a 36-ingredient micronutrient formula (known as EMPowerplus) for the treatment of psychiatric symptoms. The current study asked whether children (7-18 years) with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) benefited from this same micronutrient formula; the impact of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) on their response was also evaluated.MethodsData were available from an existing database for 120 children whose parents reported a diagnosis of PBD; 79% were taking psychiatric medications that are used to treat mood disorders; 24% were also reported as ADHD. Using Last Observation Carried Forward (LOCF), data were analyzed from 3 to 6 months of micronutrient use.ResultsAt LOCF, mean symptom severity of bipolar symptoms was 46% lower than baseline (effect size (ES) = 0.78) (p < 0.001). In terms of responder status, 46% experienced >50% improvement at LOCF, with 38% still taking psychiatric medication (52% drop from baseline) but at much lower levels (74% reduction in number of medications being used from baseline). The results were similar for those with both ADHD and PBD: a 43% decline in PBD symptoms (ES = 0.72) and 40% in ADHD symptoms (ES = 0.62). An alternative sample of children with just ADHD symptoms (n = 41) showed a 47% reduction in symptoms from baseline to LOCF (ES = 1.04). The duration of reductions in symptom severity suggests that benefits were not attributable to placebo/expectancy effects. Similar findings were found for younger and older children and for both sexes.ConclusionsThe data are limited by the open label nature of the study, the lack of a control group, and the inherent self-selection bias. While these data cannot establish efficacy, the results are consistent with a growing body of research suggesting that micronutrients appear to have therapeutic benefit for children with PBD with or without ADHD in the absence of significant side effects and may allow for a reduction in psychiatric medications while improving symptoms. The consistent reporting of positive changes across multiple sites and countries are substantial enough to warrant a call for randomized clinical trials using micronutrients.

Vitamin‐mineral treatment improves aggression and emotional regulation in children with ADHD: a fully blinded, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial

“…Improvements in core ADHD symptoms were less consistent in children than in the adults, although self-reported ratings of inattention improved more across both age groups on micronutrients as compared with placebo. Further, these results were consistent with other micronutrient studies documenting improved emotional regulation and reduced aggression in children (Adams et al, 2011;Frazier, Fristad, & Arnold, 2012;Kaplan, Hilbert, & Tsatsko, 2015;Mehl-Madrona, Leung, Kennedy, Paul, & Kaplan, 2010;Rucklidge, Gately, & Kaplan, 2010).…”

Many apples a day keep the blues away – Daily experiences of negative and positive affect and food consumption in young adults

“…Other nutrients such as flavonols (found in fruits; van Praag et al, 2007) and the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; Adams, Lawson, Sanigorski, & Sinclair, 1996;Freeman et al, 2006;Hibbeln, 1998) have been found to improve cognitive function, which may improve mood. There is also evidence that micronutrient formulas may have therapeutic benefits for children with mood disorders such as paediatric bipolar disorder and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (Rucklidge, Gately, & Kaplan, 2010). Conversely, foods with high contents of trans or saturated fat have been shown to adversely affect cognition (Greenwood & Winocur, 2005).…”

The Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) cohort study: rationale and methods

“…2010; Jacka et al . 2011), as do a growing number of treatment studies in which use of a broad spectrum of nutrients ameliorated mood symptoms (Gately & Kaplan 2009; Rucklidge et al . 2010).…”