title: Ketogenic diets: from cancer to mitochondrial diseases and beyond.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The employment of dietary strategies such as ketogenic diets, which force cells to alter their energy source, has shown efficacy in the treatment of several diseases. Ketogenic diets are composed of high fat, moderate protein and low carbohydrates, which favour mitochondrial respiration rather than glycolysis for energy metabolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review focuses on how oncological, neurological and mitochondrial disorders have been targeted by ketogenic diets, their metabolic effects, and the possible mechanisms of action on mitochondrial energy homeostasis. The beneficial and adverse effects of the ketogenic diets are also highlighted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the full mechanism by which ketogenic diets improve oncological and neurological conditions still remains to be elucidated, their clinical efficacy has attracted many new followers, and ketogenic diets can be a good option as a co-adjuvant therapy, depending on the situation and the extent of the disease.
authors.affiliation: CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Branco
authors.affiliation: CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.affiliation: CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sílvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Magalhães-Novais
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zehowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, USA.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cope
authors.affiliation: CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Marta
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Vilma A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Sardão
authors.affiliation: CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cunha-Oliveira
mesh_terms: D055423:Diet, Ketogenic / Q000379:methods*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000178:diet therapy*; D006019:Glycolysis; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy
keywords: Cancer; Ketogenic diet; high fat diet; mitochondria; neurological diseases