Abstract
Ketogenic diets (KD) consist of high fat, moderate protein and low carbohydrates. Studies have suggested that KD may influence oxidative stress by affecting mitochondrial quantity and/or quality, and perhaps lengthen lifespan. Therefore, we determined the effects of KD on multi-organ mitochondria volume and oxidative stress markers in rats. Ten month-old male Fisher 344 rats (n = 8 per group) were provided with one of two isocaloric diets: standard chow (SC) or KD. Rats were euthanized if: a) vitality scores exceeded a score of 16, b) rapid weight loss, or c) veterinarian deemed euthanasia necessary. The median lifespan of rats was higher in KD (762 days) compared to SC (624 days). Citrate synthase activity (i.e. estimate of mitochondria volume) was higher in the liver (p = 0.034) and gastrocnemius (p = 0.041) of KD compared to SC. Liver superoxide dismutase 1 and catalase antioxidant protein levels were higher in KD, albeit not significant (p = 0.094 and p = 0.062, respectively). No significant differences in protein levels of other antioxidants or markers of lipid and protein oxidative damage were observed in either the gastrocnemius, liver, or brain. In summary, KD increased mitochondria volume in liver and gastrocnemius and median lifespan in rats. Additionally, our data show that the increase in mitochondrial volume occurred without changes in oxidative damage or antioxidant protein levels in the gastrocnemius, liver, or brain.
Highlights
Ketogenic diets (KD) are comprised of high fat, adequate protein, and low carbohydrates [1, 2, 3] and have been shown to be effective in treating certain neurological disorders [4, 5, 6]
We have previously shown that skeletal muscle mitochondrial coupling of complex II substrates is more efficient in rodents fed a KD [14]
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the KD leads to changes in antioxidant or oxidative damage biomarkers in skeletal muscle, liver, and brain
Summary
Ketogenic diets (KD) are comprised of high fat, adequate protein, and low carbohydrates [1, 2, 3] and have been shown to be effective in treating certain neurological disorders [4, 5, 6]. ROS emission and accumulation of protein carbonyls have previously been shown to increase with age, and decrease with a calorie restricted diet in mice ranging from 9 to 23 months of age [18]. Newman et al reported that an intermittent KD (i.e., every other week) reduced midlife mortality in mice [20] These results suggest that a KD diet could mitigate the molecular changes that come with the aging process, potentially explaining the increase in longevity observed in mice fed a lifelong KD. The aforementioned studies are inconsistent with other researchers who reported that mice fed a KD did not experience increased longevity when compared to mice who were fed a standard chow [21]
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