Ketogenic diet: A nutritional remedy for some metabolic disorders

Abstract

Background: Ketogenic diets (KD) consist of high fat, moderate protein and low carbohydrates.

Aim: This review explores the effect of ketogenic diet and its mechanism of actions in disease management.

Methods: Recent information on ketogenic diets and disease management were retrieved from academic journals using scientific search engines and popular library databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, JSTOR amongst others.

Commentary: Ketogenic diet means a high fat, low-carbohydrate diet, with enough protein content, which makes the body utilize fat, rather than carbohydrate, as a preferred energy source. There are four different types of ketogenic diet, the traditional classic ketogenic diet, medium chain triglyceride (MCT) ketogenic diet, the modified Atkins diet (MAD), and the low glycemic index treatment (LGIT). The classic ketogenic diet, also known as long-chain fats consist of 16-20 carbon atoms. Its peculiarity is the low carbohydrate content, which could be difficult to maintain. The MCT was developed as an alternative to classic ketogenic diet. It has a fat composition of 60% octanoic acid (eight-carbon fatty acid) and 40% decanoic acid (10-carbon fatty acid). The MCT provides about 45% of energy when compared with the classic ketogenic diet. The MAD though strongly encourages the intake of high fat, it allows for 10-20 g of carbohydrate per day. The LGIT permits only low glycemic index foods. Ketogenic diets have been a therapeutic strategy for several diseases such as obesity, dyslipidemia, cancer and a broad range of neurological disorders.

Conclusion: The ketogenic diet, an effective and age-long treatment for epilepsy in children, is gradually gaining acceptance as a therapeutic modality for many other diseases.