Orthomolecular understanding of bipolar disorder views the condition as a disorder that may have different underlying biochemical causes. In our research we have discovered 4 distinct phenotypes of bipolar disorder and the neurotransmitters they effect:
- Undermethylation– serotonin and dopamine
- Overmethylation– serotonin and dopamine
- Copper/ Zinc Imbalance– norepinephrine and dopamine
- Severe Oxidative Stress– detrimental effect NMDA receptor (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor)
Pyrrole disorder typically represents the misdiagnosis of rapid cycling bipolar disorder, whereas typical Bipolar diagnoses most often has overmethylation as the critical underlying cause. Under this understanding, supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids, SAMe, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), zinc, magnesium, B vitamins, antioxidants, and probiotics may be recommended to help restore balance and promote wellness.In addition, food can lead to mood swings that can make it seem as though one is bipolar in nature. For example, high carb foods can lead to emotional highs and then low crashes. If a patient lives on this kind of diet daily, these mood fluctuations can often confuse the true nature of a given diagnosis.