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The British Journal of Psychiatry (2003) 182: 210-213
© 2003 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Effects of a branched-chain amino acid drink in mania

A. SCARNÀ, DPhil, H. J. GIJSMAN, MD, S. F. B. McTAVISH, MRCPsych, C. J. HARMER, DPhil, P. J. COWEN, FRCPsych and G. M. GOODWIN, FRCPsych

University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK

Correspondence: Dr A. Scarnà, Neurosciences Building, University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK. Tel: 01865 226492; e-mail: anna.scarna{at}psych.ox.ac.uk

Declaration of interest This study was funded by the Wellcome Trust; P.J.C. is a Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Scientist, S.F.B.M. is an MRC Clinician Scientist Fellow and C.J.H. is an MRC Training Fellow.

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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