Ketogenic Diets and Neuroinflammation

Abstract

AbstractThe high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (KD) is an established and proven treatment for pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Recently, the KD has been validated as a treatment option for some inflammation-induced epileptic encephalopathies. Given the broad neuroprotective properties of the KD in various experimental models of neurologic disorders, there are emerging potential future applications. Indeed, there is growing clinical and basic laboratory evidence that the KD exerts anti-inflammatory effects. Ketone bodies, caloric restriction, and polyunsaturated fatty acids—among other substrates and mediators—might be involved in the modulation of inflammation by the KD. This chapter reviews the evidence that, in part through anti-inflammatory effects, the KD holds promise in the treatment of certain epileptic disorders, neuropathic pain, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease.