The Multifaceted Roles of Ketogenic Diets in Neurology-Brain Cancers and Other Neurologic Diseases

Abstract

The ketogenic diet (KD) is currently well known in the lay media as a quick way to lose weight. However, the KD is not a new medical concept. The KD was used in the early 1900s to control seizures. However, as we developed more effective pharmacological agents, we used the KD less until it became practically obscure by the 1980s. Similar to the effects of fasting, the KD leads to the production of ketones as an alternative energy source to glucose. Therefore, the KD has many beneficial metabolic effects, such as an improved immune response, regulation of signal transduction, inflammatory pathways, and neurotransmission. There is growing evidence that KD can be used in the management of various disorders, such as mitochondrial diseases, metabolic disorders, and even cancer. From a neurological standpoint, the KD may have therapeutic benefits in multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, dementia, and stroke. The purpose of this brief narrative review is to outline the current research in the literature on the great potential of the KD as part of a comprehensive neurological treatment plan covering multiple neurological disorders such as status epilepticus, traumatic brain injuries, neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders, neuropathies, and cancers.