Health Conditions Treatable by a Ketogenic Diet – Part 3

#11. Traumatic Brain Injury. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) most commonly results from a blow to the head, a car accident or a fall in which the head strikes the ground. It can have devastating effects on physical function, memory and personality. Unlike cells in most other organs, injured brain cells often recover very little, if at all.

Because the body’s ability to use sugar following head trauma is impaired, some researchers believe the ketogenic diet may benefit people with TBI.

#12. Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis (MS) damages the protective covering of nerves, which leads to communication problems between the brain and body. Symptoms include numbness and problems with balance, movement, vision and memory.

One study of MS in a mouse model found that a ketogenic diet suppressed inflammatory markers. The reduced inflammation led to improvements in memory, learning and physical function.

As with other nervous system disorders, MS appears to reduce the cells’ ability to use sugar as a fuel source. A 2015 review discussed ketogenic diets’ potential to assist with energy production and cell repair in MS patients.

Additionally, a recent controlled study of 48 people with MS found significant improvements in quality of life scores, cholesterol and triglycerides in the groups who followed a ketogenic diet or fasted for several days.

More studies are currently underway.

Bottom Line: Studies about the potential benefits of a ketogenic diet for treating MS are promising. However, more human studies are needed.

#13. Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in the Western world.

It is strongly linked to type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity, and there’s evidence that NAFLD also improves on a very low-carb, ketogenic diet.

#14. Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of dementia characterized by plaques and tangles in the brain that impair memory.

Interestingly, Alzheimer’s disease appears to share features of both epilepsy and type 2 diabetes: seizures, the inability of the brain to properly use glucose and inflammation linked to insulin resistance

#15. Migraine Headaches. Migraine headaches typically involve severe pain, sensitivity to light and nausea. Some studies suggest migraine headache symptoms often improve in people who follow ketogenic diets

Bottom Line: Some studies suggest that migraine headache frequency and severity may improve in people following a ketogenic diet.

Take Home Message

Ketogenic diets are being considered for use in several disorders due to their beneficial effects on metabolic health and the nervous system.

However, many of these impressive results come from case studies and need validation through higher-quality research, including randomized controlled trials.

With respect to cancer and several other serious diseases on this list, a ketogenic diet should be undertaken only in addition to standard therapies under the supervision of a doctor or qualified healthcare provider.

Also, no one should consider the ketogenic diet a cure for any disease or disorder on its own.

Nonetheless, the ketogenic diets’ potential to improve health is very promising.

Part 3 of 3 parts.