KETOGENIC DIET AND EPILEPSY A ketogenic diet, or keto diet, is a very low-carb diet, which is known to turn the body into a fat-burning machine, has many potential benefits for weight loss, health and performance, but also some potential initial side effects. The importance of the ketogenic diet (KD) has been acknowledged in the treatment of epilepsy, although the exact mechanisms, remains an enigma. They seem to be different from those of regular antiepileptic medications (AEDs), and is comprised of four elements, the changes of any of them can potentially result in loss of its anticonvulsant effect: (1) increased amount of fat, i.e., in a ratio of 3 to 4 grams of fat for each gram of protein and carbohydrates, (2) as low glucose consumption …show more content…
A net effect of enhanced GABAergic influence can be responsible for an anticonvulsant action.Another product of an elevated level of free fatty acids is polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with potential ability of PUFAs to block seizure activity in the brain is associated with some rather more complicated mechanisms, including direct inhibition of voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels, activation of a lipid-sensitive potassium channel, enhanced activity of the sodium pump to limit neuronal excitability, activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα), and induction of expression and activity of brain-specific uncoupling proteins in mitochondria, henceforth inducing a neuroprotective effect which works through limiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.The ketogenic diet is primarily anticonvulsant but in several aspects, is also neuroprotective. Neuroprotection can bring about the anticonvulsant effect, but it may have other effects, which can lead to other clinical uses of the KD. Overall, the use of the KD enhances energy production in the brain. A product of βhydroxybutyrate dehydrogenation, acetoacetate, is transferred into acetyl-CoA which enters the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. The increased turnover generates protons and electrons that are channeled to