Ketogenic regimens for acute neurotraumatic events

Abstract

Dietary modification would be the most translatable, cost-efficient, and, likely, the safest approach available that can reduce the reliance on pharmaceutical treatments for treating acute or chronic neurological disorders. A wide variety of evidence suggests that the ketogenic diet (KD) could have beneficial effects in acute traumatic events, such as spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. Review of existing human and animal studies revealed that KD can improve motor neuro-recovery, gray matter sparing, pain thresholds, and neuroinflammation and decrease depression. Although the exact mechanism by which the KD provides neuroprotection is not fully understood, its effects on cellular energetics, mitochondria function and inflammation are likely to have a role.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest disclosures: The authors report no conflict of interest

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1.

Potential mechanisms of actions of ketones and ketogenic regimens after spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. 1) Ketones provide an alternative energy source to glucose, which might contribute to overcome the energy deficit seen during trauma. 2) Ketones can reduce free radical production and oxidative stress by improving mitochondrial function and increasing antioxidant enzymes. 3) Ketones may improve mitochondrial function and volume. 4) Ketones have been shown to reduce inflammatory response by reducing infiltrating macrophages and lowering the pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Figure is created with BioRender.com.