Brain Function and Ketogenic Diet

Glucose and the Brain

• Glucose is the main and preferred fuel for the body, particularly the brain.
• The brain needs approximately 10 grams of glucose per hour to maintain consciousness.
• Ketone bodies are a suitable alternative fuel for the brain, being water-soluble and easily transportable.

Ketogenic Diet

• The ketogenic diet is a treatment for refractory epilepsy syndromes.
• It is induced by a reduction in carbohydrate consumption and an increase in fat and protein intake.
• The diet mimics the metabolic effects of prolonged fasting.
• Ketogenic diets are effective in treating drug-resistant seizures.

Mechanism of Ketogenic Diet

• The exact mechanism of the ketogenic diet is not fully understood.
• It was initially thought to act through a starvation mechanism, but this has been disproven.
• The diet induces a ketotic state, which is accompanied by glucose sparing and decreased glucose demands by the brain.

Ketosis

• Ketosis is defined as the generation of ketone bodies and release of free fatty acids from fat stores.
• Acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetone are the only biologically useful ketone bodies.
• Most organs can use ketone bodies or lipids as a source of energy, except for the liver.

Neurological Effects

• The neurological effects of the ketogenic diet are diverse and extend beyond epilepsy.
• It may relate to or intersect with neural adaptive mechanisms, such as synaptogenesis, suppression of neuroinflammation, and promotion of neuroprotection.
• The diet may have antiepileptogenic and disease-modifying capabilities in various disease states.

Therapeutic Applications

• The ketogenic diet has therapeutic applications in obesity, diabetes, and other conditions.
• The choice of therapeutic targets and specific diet treatment modulate the effects of the diet.

Explore the role of glucose in brain function and the ketogenic diet as a treatment for epilepsy. Learn how glucose and ketone bodies fuel the brain.