Ketogenic diet

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, medium protein, low carbohydrate diet primarily used for children with treatment-resistent epilepsy. It induces ketosis, a metabolic state in which the body derives most of its energy from ketones rather than glucose.

Types of ketogenic diets
Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) produce more ketone bodies than normal dietary fats and so are often used in ketogenic diets to help maintain ketosis at a lower proportion of fat intake.

General effects
In an animal model, a ketogenic diet was shown to increase mitochondrial biogenesis. . A similar result was found in a study of fasting mice.

Epilepsy
Neurotransmitters regulate nerve impulses is the brain by either inhibiting impulse firing or exciting the neuron to fire. A primary inhibitory neurotransmitters is GABA and a primary excitatory neurotransmitters is glutamate. In patients with epilepsy, if the normal balance of inhibition and excitation is disrupted, a seizure can occur.

It us unknown why ketogenic diets are protective against epilepsy. In animal models, the ketone bodies acetoacetate and acetone have anticonvulsant properities through a novel pathway. Ketone bodies are also a more efficient fuel than glucose.

Neurodegenerative diseases
There is evidence from uncontrolled clinical trials and animal models that ketogenic diets may be protective in neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's

Chronic fatigue syndrome
No studies have been done on the effects of ketogenic diets in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Mitochondrial dysfunction in CFS patients suggests one possible pathway through which ketogenic diets could confer some benefit.

Dr Gabriela Segura, Consultant Cardiologist, writes on Dr Sarah Myhill's web site about the ketogenic diet and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Dr Courtney Craig has written about ME/CFS and the possibly benefits of a ketogenic diet.