Ketogenic Diet as a Treatment for ALS
Author Information
Author(s): Zhao Zhong, Dale J Lange, Andrei Voustianiouk, Donal MacGrogan, Lap Ho, Jason Suh, Nelson Humala, Meenakshisundaram Thiyagarajan, Jun Wang, Giulio M Pasinetti
Primary Institution: Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Can a ketogenic diet slow the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a mouse model?
Conclusion
The ketogenic diet may slow motor deterioration and protect motor neurons in a mouse model of ALS.
Supporting Evidence
- KD fed mice had blood ketones over 3.5 times higher than controls.
- KD fed mice maintained motor performance longer than standard diet mice.
- More motor neurons were found in KD fed mice compared to controls.
Takeaway
Feeding mice a special high-fat diet helped them stay stronger for longer when they had a disease that makes their muscles weak.
Methodology
SOD1-G93A transgenic ALS mice were fed a ketogenic diet, and their motor performance, longevity, and motor neuron counts were measured.
Limitations
The study could not perform standard longevity analysis due to data failing normalcy and variance requirements.
Participant Demographics
Male SOD1-G93A mutant transgenic mice were used in the study.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.030
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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