title: Mitochondria: The ketogenic diet--A metabolism-based therapy.
abstract: Mitochondria are the energy-producing organelles of the cell, generating ATP via oxidative phosphorylation mainly by using pyruvate derived from glycolytic processing of glucose. Ketone bodies generated by fatty acid oxidation can serve as alternative metabolites for aerobic energy production. The ketogenic diet, which is high in fat and low in carbohydrates, mimics the metabolic state of starvation, forcing the body to utilize fat as its primary source of energy. The ketogenic diet is used therapeutically for pharmacoresistant epilepsy and for "rare diseases" of glucose metabolism (glucose transporter type 1 and pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency). As metabolic reprogramming from oxidative phosphorylation toward increased glycolysis is a hallmark of cancer cells; there is increasing evidence that the ketogenic diet may also be beneficial as an adjuvant cancer therapy by potentiating the antitumor effect of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. This article is part of a Directed Issue entitled: Energy Metabolism Disorders and Therapies.
authors: Laura Bassi Centre of Expertise-THERAPEP, Research Program for Receptor Biochemistry and Tumor Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Vidali
authors: Laura Bassi Centre of Expertise-THERAPEP, Research Program for Receptor Biochemistry and Tumor Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Sepideh
authors: S
authors: Aminzadeh
authors: Clinical Nutrition Vitaflo International Ltd, Liverpool, UK.
authors: Bridget
authors: B
authors: Lambert
authors: Clinical Nutrition Vitaflo International Ltd, Liverpool, UK.
authors: Tricia
authors: T
authors: Rutherford
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Sperl
authors: Laura Bassi Centre of Expertise-THERAPEP, Research Program for Receptor Biochemistry and Tumor Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. Electronic address: b.kofler@salk.at.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Kofler
authors: Laura Bassi Centre of Expertise-THERAPEP, Research Program for Receptor Biochemistry and Tumor Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: René G
authors: RG
authors: Feichtinger
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D055423:Diet, Ketogenic; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000235:genetics*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose; D006019:Glycolysis; D006801:Humans; D007657:Ketone Bodies / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D007657:Ketone Bodies; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D005947:Glucose
keywords: Cancer; Ketogenic diet; Metabolism; Mitochondria