Hot dogs and other processed meats can lead to manic episodes | Health - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Hot dogs and other processed meats can lead to manic episodes

Press Trust of India | By
Jul 18, 2018 03:53 PM IST

Eating processed meat snacks, be it salami or hot dogs, can lead to mania, says this new study.

Chemicals in processed meat snacks, such as salamis and hot dogs, can contribute to mania, an abnormal mood state characterised by hyperactivity, euphoria and insomnia. The study, done by researchers from Johns Hopkins University and published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, found that people hospitalised for an episode of mania had more than three times the odds of having ever eaten nitrate-cured meats than people without a history of a serious psychiatric disorder.

Hot dogs and other processed meat snacks can contribute to mania, an abnormal mood state characterised by hyperactivity, euphoria and insomnia.(Shutterstock)
Hot dogs and other processed meat snacks can contribute to mania, an abnormal mood state characterised by hyperactivity, euphoria and insomnia.(Shutterstock)

Experiments in rats by the researchers showed that mania-like hyperactivity after just a few weeks on diets with added nitrates. The study adds to evidence that certain diets and potentially the amounts and types of bacteria in the gut may contribute to mania and other disorders that affect the brain. “Future work on this association could lead to dietary interventions to help reduce the risk of manic episodes in those who have bipolar disorder or who are otherwise vulnerable to mania,” said Robert Yolken, from the Johns Hopkins University.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Mania, a state of elevated mood, arousal and energy that lasts weeks to months, is generally seen in people with bipolar disorder, but can also occur in those with schizoaffective disorder. Manic states can lead to dangerous risk-taking behaviour and can include delusional thinking, and most of those affected experience multiple hospitalisations in the course of their psychiatric illness.

Nitrates have long been used as preservatives in cured meat products and have been previously linked to some cancers and neurodegenerative diseases, so Yolken suspected they may also explain the link to mood states such as mania. In experiments with rats, researchers analysed the gut bacteria of the animals. They found that rats with nitrate in their diet had different patterns of bacteria living in their intestines than the other rats.

Moreover, the animals had differences in several molecular pathways in the brain that have been previously implicated in bipolar disorder. While the team also cautions that it’s too early to take any clinical messages from the results, and occasional cured meat consumption is unlikely to spur a manic episode in most of the population, Yolken said the findings add to evidence of the multiple factors that contribute to mania and bipolar disorder.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more

Oscars 2024: From Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On