Reversal of Diabetic Nephropathy by a Ketogenic Diet

Ted_Hutchinson · � #1 � 10-06-2011, 04:20 AM

Reversal of Diabetic Nephropathy by a Ketogenic Diet
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Intensive insulin therapy and protein restriction delay the development of nephropathy in a variety of conditions, but few interventions are known to reverse nephropathy. Having recently observed that the ketone 3-beta-hydroxybutyric acid (3-OHB) reduces molecular responses to glucose, we hypothesized that a ketogenic diet, which produces prolonged elevation of 3-OHB, may reverse pathological processes caused by diabetes. To address this hypothesis, we assessed if prolonged maintenance on a ketogenic diet would reverse nephropathy produced by diabetes. In mouse models for both Type 1 (Akita) and Type 2 (db/db) diabetes, diabetic nephropathy (as indicated by albuminuria) was allowed to develop, then half the mice were switched to a ketogenic diet. After 8 weeks on the diet, mice were sacrificed to assess gene expression and histology. Diabetic nephropathy, as indicated by albumin/creatinine ratios as well as expression of stress-induced genes, was completely reversed by 2 months maintenance on a ketogenic diet. However, histological evidence of nephropathy was only partly reversed. These studies demonstrate that diabetic nephropathy can be reversed by a relatively simple dietary intervention. Whether reduced glucose metabolism mediates the protective effects of the ketogenic diet remains to be determined.

mommysunshine · � #2 � 03-11-2012, 10:19 PM

what is an example of a ketogenic diet?

Ted_Hutchinson · � #3 � 03-12-2012, 03:19 AM

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Originally Posted by mommysunshine

what is an example of a ketogenic diet?

All diets that reduce carbohydrate consumption to such an extent that calories stored in fat tissue are available as fuel.
Most people will find that going under 100g carbs daily will be sufficient but others will have to go under 50g carbs daily.
We come into this world with the ability to burn fat and rely on ketones as human milk it ketogenic. (high in Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) like coconut oil) Trouble is wean babies far too early and we are now eating too much carbohydrate, too often through the day and too late at night so we lose the metabolic flexibility to burn fat, which is in fact the fuel human cells function most efficiently with.

Before starting on a ketogenic (low carbohydrate) diet it's as well to introduce foods containing MCT which are metabolised readily, to avoid the "Atkins flu" or malaise that occurs when the body is deprived of the carbohydrates it's become reliant on and hasn't got used to adapting to fat burning (usually takes around 3 weeks in adults.
More extreme Ketogenic diets are used to treat Epilepsy

One of the problems is that people don't generally understand the difference between Ketoacidosis versus Ketosis Ideally while we are asleep we should ALL be in ketosis EVERY NIGHT, using our Brown Adipose Tissue to maintain body temperature while we sleep (not relying on central heating, air conditioning, or electric blankets)

Regaining the natural metabolic flexibility to burn fat should be the aim of everyone wanting to delay the onset of dementia. One of the main functions of astrocytes in our brain is their ability to supply ketones to neurones as required. We need this natural neuroprotection particularly as we age. Alzheimer's is a condition involving faulty glucose metabolism. Brains that regularly use ketones as we evolved to do, have an advantage that we should do our best to preserve.

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