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Cited by 239Diet and metabolism studiesMetabolism and Genetic DisordersEpilepsy research and treatment

The ketogenic diet: Uses in epilepsy and other neurologic illnesses

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Barañano, Kristin W., Hartman, Adam L.·2008·Current Treatment Options in Neurology
DOI 10.1007/s11940-008-0043-8PMC PMC2898565
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Abstract

The ketogenic diet is well established as therapy for intractable epilepsy. It should be considered first-line therapy in glucose transporter type 1 and pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency. It should be considered early in the treatment of Dravet syndrome and myoclonic-astatic epilepsy (Doose syndrome). Initial studies indicate that the ketogenic diet appears effective in other metabolic conditions, including phosphofructokinase deficiency and glycogenosis type V (McArdle disease). It appears to function in these disorders by providing an alternative fuel source. A growing body of literature suggests the ketogenic diet may be beneficial in certain neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In these disorders, the ketogenic diet appears to be neuroprotective, promoting enhanced mitochondrial function and rescuing adenosine triphosphate production. Dietary therapy is a promising intervention for cancer, given that it may target the relative inefficiency of tumors in using ketone bodies as an alternative fuel source. The ketogenic diet also may have a role in improving outcomes in trauma and hypoxic injuries.

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  • The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that mimics the metabolic effects of starvation by forcing the body to use its primary fat reserves.

    “The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that mimics the metabolic effects of starvation by forcing the body to use its primary fat reserves (Barañano, 2008).”

    From The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis (2019) · cites this paper as Barañano, 2008

    The Introduction describes the ketogenic diet as very high in fat and low in carbohydrates and says it is thought to simulate starvation by making the body use primarily fat for fuel. It says the body metabolizes fat stores during fasting, but does not say the diet forces use of the body's fat reserves rather than dietary fat. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Research works printed but not linked: 48

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Barañano, K. W., & Hartman, A. L.
Affiliations
Johns Hopkins University (US)
Corresponding author
Hartman, Adam L.
ORCID
Hartman, Adam L.
Venue
Current Treatment Options in Neurology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2008-11
Volume
10
Issue
6
Pages
410-419
ISSN
  • 1092-8480 (ISSN-L)
  • 1534-3138
DOI
10.1007/s11940-008-0043-8
PMC
PMC2898565
OpenAlex
W2023983971
Cited by
239
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 10
FWCI
4.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Current Treatment Options in Neurology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (K12NS001696)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Diet and metabolism studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Clinical Biochemistry › Metabolism and Genetic Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Epilepsy research and treatment
Keywords
ketogenic diet, drug-resistant epilepsy, pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency, Dravet syndrome, myoclonic-astatic epilepsy, phosphofructokinase deficiency, McArdle disease, neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, neuroprotection, mitochondrial function, ATP production, cancer therapy, ketone bodies, hypoxic injury, trauma (physical injury)

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