The ketogenic diet is a high-fat diet sometimes prescribed for epilepsy in patients who do not respond to anti-seizure medicine. The diet forces the brain to switch from its normal metabolism to a different kind of metabolism that has a stabilizing effect on the brain. This prevents neurons from becoming over-excited. As seizures start with over-excitement in localized neurons, the stabilizing effects of the ketogenic diet can reduce the frequency and intensity of seizures. The ketogenic diet may also have positive effects on autism.
The Ketogenic Diet
The ketogenic diet restricts the intake of carbohydrates to an absolute minimum. Protein intake is carefully measured to be adequate for maintenance and repair. The rest of the diet consists in fat. Carbohydrates are the main source of glucose. Protein, too, can convert into glucose but this process only initiates if there is an excess of protein or the body is starving. Fat does not convert into significant amounts of glucose. The liver breaks down fat to fatty acids and small quantities of glycerol. Glycerol can convert into glucose but fatty acids cannot; therefore, the ketogenic diet results in very low levels of glucose.
Switching Brain Metabolism
Unlike many body cells, brain cells can only use two kinds of fuel: glucose or ketone bodies. Ketone bodies are a residue in fat metabolism. When glucose is restricted, brain cells are forced to use ketone bodies as an energy source. Ketone body metabolism stabilizes neurons in the brain by promoting a proliferation of mitochondria, the cells' fuel burners. The increase in mitochondria has a stabilizing effect on the structure of neurons, which prevents hyper-excitement.
Autism
Autism usually is detected within the first three years of life. It is considered a developmental disorder, that is, a disorder that has a biological or chemical basis and which is not simply a result of prolonged exposure to the wrong kind of environment. Autism affects communication and social skills. Other characteristics include restricted interests and repetitive, ritualistic or compulsive behavior. High-functioning autistics, including people with the disorder formerly referred to as "Asperger syndrome," often have a higher-than-normal IQ and are able to live a fairly normal and independent life.
The Ketogenic Diet and Autism Spectrum Disorder
A pilot study published in the February 2003 issue of "Journal of Child Neurology" suggests that the ketogenic diet may alleviate the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. The study examined the effects of the ketogenic diet on autism in 30 autistic children between 4 and 10 years of age during six months. Twelve patients did not complete the diet. Eighteen of the 30 remaining children showed significant improvement in social and communicative abilities. This data is preliminary but does suggest a possible alternative treatment of autism spectrum disorder.
References
- Natural Physiques; History of the Ketogenic Diet, by Lyle McDonald
- Johns Hopkins Medicine: The Ketogenic Diet Center
- "Journal of Child Neurology"; Application of a ketogenic diet in children with autistic behavior: pilot study; Evangeliou A, et al. February 2003
- "Annals of Neurology"; Mitochondrial biogenesis in the anticonvulsant mechanism of the ketogenic diet; Bough KJ, et al.; August 2006
- "Epilepsy Currents"; The Ketogenic Diet: Stoking the Powerhouse of the Cell; Jong M Rho and Michael A Rogawski; March 2007
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