The antidepressant properties of the ketogenic diet.
BACKGROUND
The ketogenic diet is used to treat epilepsy refractory to anticonvulsant medication. Individuals with epilepsy often have behavioral problems and deficits in attention and cognitive functioning. The ketogenic diet has been found to effect improvements in these domains. It has also been suggested that the ketogenic diet may act as a mood stabilizer.


METHODS
The present research used the Porsolt test, an animal model of depression, to determine whether the ketogenic diet has antidepressant properties. Porsolt test scores of rats on the ketogenic diet were compared with those of rats on a control diet.


RESULTS
The rats on the ketogenic diet spent less time immobile, suggesting that rats on the ketogenic diet, like rats treated with antidepressants, are less likely to exhibit "behavioral despair."


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that the ketogenic diet may have antidepressant properties.
Murphy
Patricia
P
Department of Pharmacology, The University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8. pattyannemurphy@hotmail.com
Likhodii
Sergei
S
Nylen
Kirk
K
Burnham
W M
WM
D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000178:diet therapy*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006234:Handling, Psychological; D007659:Ketones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007662:Ketosis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D007659:Ketones; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid