One of the conversations at market today was about ketosis - a state of elevated ketone bodies that are formed by ketogenesis when liver glycogen stores are depleted. The ketone bodies acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate are used for energy. This happens when there is very low blood glucose either due to dietary restriction of carbohydrate intake or high physical (or mental) activity. It has long been known that ketosis has some dramatic effects on the brain. Its a standard treatment for epilepsy. There are new findings of other possible brain benefits. From the linked article: ---- Emerging evidence from animal models and clinical trials suggest keto may be therapeutically used in many other neurological disorders, including head ache, neurodegenerative diseases, sleep disorders, bipolar disorder, autism and brain cancer. With no apparent side effects. ... So the brain is happily deriving energy from ketones – sure, but why would this be protective against such a variety of brain diseases? One answer may be energy. Despite their superficial differences, many neurological diseases share one major problem – deficient energy production. During metabolic stress, ketones serve as an alternative energy source to maintain normal brain cell metabolism. In fact, BHB (a major ketone) may be an even more efficient fuel than glucose, providing more energy per unit oxygen used. A ketogenic diet also increases the number of mitochondria, so called “energy factories” in brain cells. A recent study found enhanced expression of genes encoding for mitochondrial enzymes and energy metabolism in the hippocampus, a part of the brain important for learning and memory. Hippocampal cells often degenerate in age-related brain diseases, leading to cognitive dysfunction and memory loss. With increased energy reserve, neurons may be able to ward off disease stressors that would usually exhaust and kill the cell. A ketogenic diet may also DIRECTLY inhibit a major source of neuronal stress, by –well- acting like a blueberry. Reactive oxygen species are unfortunate byproducts of cellular metabolism. Unlike the gas Oxygen, these “oxidants” have a single electron that makes them highly reactive, bombarding into proteins and membranes and wrecking their structure. Increased oxidants are a hallmark of aging, stroke and neurodegeneration. ---- A lot of the current interest in low carb diets has to do with cardiovascular benefits - reduction of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes; some interest comes from intolerance of some carbohydrate associated proteins such as gluten; and some interest comes from a desire to avoid carbohydrate associated polyunsaturated fatty acids such as omega-6 that cause oxidative stress, i.e. vegetable oils and grains in general. Adding these potential neuro-protective benefits of ketosis when very low carbohydrate diets are used is intriguing. blogs.scientificamerican/mind-guest-blog/2013/10/01/the-fat-fueled-brain-unnatural-or-advantageous/
Posted on: Sat, 26 Oct 2013 21:50:20 +0000
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