Ketogenic diets: Answer to life-threatening neurological diseases

Abstract

BackgroundSeveral studies have shown that the ketone bodies produced by consumption of the ketogenic diet can be useful in the long-term treatment of several neurological conditions namely epilepsy, glioblastoma multi-forme, autism, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, migraine and multiple sclerosis. The review discusses each condition based on the global incidence, risk factors, pathophysiology, influence of the ketogenic diet on the disease and how the ketogenic diet can be used in the management of the disease. MethodLiterature search was done for the use of ketogenic diet on neurological disorders from the year 1990–2022 using three databases: Pubmed, Google Scholar and Science Direct. ResultsKetone bodies have the underlying ability to trigger favorable mechanisms in the body - such as energy compensation to the neurons during cell necrosis or apoptosis, elevated GABA mediated inhibition, improved blood flow in the cerebrum, a positive influence in the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis (MGBA) system, protection against oxidative stress by increasing the concentration of anti- oxidants, stabilization of ion channels and membrane potential, reduction in neuro-inflammation, increased neuroprotection and lastly increased respiratory rate and ATP production which contributes to energy efficiency that helps to rectify the metabolic imbalance and maintain a balance between the excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain. ConclusionThe ketogenic diet can potentially act as a significant tool for symptomatic treatment of life threatening and long-term neurological ailments. Going forward, it could also aid in the curing of such conditions.