Effects of ketogenic diet on electroconvulsive threshold and brain contents of adenosine nucleotides

Brain Dev. 1983;5(4):375-80. doi: 10.1016/s0387-7604(83)80042-4.

Abstract

The anticonvulsive effect of a ketogenic diet was investigated using mice fed on a ketogenic milk powder which contained medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). Electroconvulsive shocking and determination of adenosine nucleotides in mice brain were performed on three mice groups, (1) a control group; free access to a commercially available diet, (2) a fasted group; fasted for two days, and (3) a ketotic group; fasted for two days and then fed on the ketogenic milk powder for two weeks. The maximal electroconvulsive threshold of the ketotic group was significantly higher than that of the fasted group (p less than 0.001). The maximal electroconvulsive threshold of the fasted group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p less than 0.05). The contents of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the brain of the ketotic group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p less than 0.01). These results suggest that chronic ketosis with the ketogenic diet increases the contents of ATP in the brain and this increase in ATP probably accounts for the neuronal stability.

MeSH terms

  • 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid
  • Adenine Nucleotides / analysis*
  • Animals
  • Brain Chemistry*
  • Diet*
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage*
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Female
  • Hydroxybutyrates / blood
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Milk
  • Seizures / prevention & control*
  • Triglycerides / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Adenine Nucleotides
  • Dietary Fats
  • Hydroxybutyrates
  • Triglycerides
  • 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid