title: Effects of a branched-chain amino acid drink in mania.
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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether a simple, branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) drink diminishes manic symptoms acutely and following repeated administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, UK. anna.scarna@psych.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scarna
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gijsman
authors.forename: S F B
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: McTavish
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Harmer
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cowen
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Goodwin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001628:Beverages; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007532:Isoleucine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007930:Leucine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D015990:Placebo Effect; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000172:deficiency; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D007532:Isoleucine; D014443:Tyrosine; D007930:Leucine; D014633:Valine