Effects of the Ketogenic Diet on Cerebral Energy Metabolism

In vivo and in vitro studies show that the ketogenic diet (KD) has effects on cerebral metabolism. These changes act in concert to raise brain energy reserves and may contribute to the anticonvulsant action of the diet. In contrast to the sedative effects of many antiepileptic medications, the biochemical changes induced by the KD serve to enhance brain function. However, the precise mechanisms through which higher cerebral energy reserves reduce seizure activity are unknown. We speculate that failure to meet energy needs contributes to the cellular processes involved in the generation, spread, and maintenance of epileptic activity. We further speculate that the KD ameliorates these deficiencies by bypassing less efficient cytosolic glycolytic pathways and maximizing tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle function. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.