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Clinical Trial
. 2003 Mar:182:210-3.
doi: 10.1192/bjp.182.3.210.

Effects of a branched-chain amino acid drink in mania

A Scarna  1 , H J Gijsman, S F B McTavish, C J Harmer, P J Cowen, G M Goodwin
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Effects of a branched-chain amino acid drink in mania

A Scarna et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2003 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Administration of a complex tyrosine-free amino acid drink acutely decreases manic symptoms. Although a nutrient-based approach to illness management is attractive, complex amino acid drinks are too unpalatable for repeated administration.

Aims: To assess whether a simple, branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) drink diminishes manic symptoms acutely and following repeated administration.

Method: Twenty-five patients with mania were randomly and blindly allocated to treatment with BCAA (60 g) or placebo daily for 7 days.

Results: Relative to placebo, the BCAA drink lowered mania ratings acutely over the first 6 h of treatment. In protocol completers there was a persistent advantage to the BCAA group 1 week after the end of treatment.

Conclusions: A nutritional intervention that decreases tyrosine availability to the brain acutely ameliorates manic symptoms. Further studies are required to assess whether this approach has longer-term efficacy.

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