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The Effects of a Long‐Term Ketogenic Diet on Molecular Markers of Cardiac Hypertrophy
Author(s) -
Romero Matthew Anastacio,
Hyatt Hayden W.,
Kephart Wesley C.,
Mumford Petey W.,
Lowery Ryan P.,
Wilson Jacob M.,
Roberts Michael D.,
Kavazis Andreas
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.1019.10
Subject(s) - ketogenic diet , medicine , endocrinology , muscle hypertrophy , biology , chemistry , epilepsy , neuroscience
OBJECTIVE Ketogenic diets (KD) have been investigated for their ability to alter body composition as well as a possible nutritional intervention for epilepsy; however, little is known about long‐term adherence to a KD and its physiological impact. Considering the fat content of a KD and recent research that show a high fat diet may cause cardiac hypertrophy, the objective of this study was to investigate the possible positive or negative responses from long‐term adherence to a KD in cardiac muscle. METHODS Male Fisher rats (4 mo. old) were provided isocaloric amounts of KD (5.2 kcal/g, 23.1% protein, 9.6% carbohydrate, and 65.3% fat, n=6) or standard chow (SC) (3.1 kcal/g, 24% protein, 58% carbohydrate, 18% fat; n=6) for 8 months. RESULTS Weights between groups were lower in the KD group compared to SC (p<0.01), while overall heart weights were not statistically different (p=0.35). Interestingly, heart weights relative to body weight did change with the KD group having higher relative heart weight compared to SC (p<0.01). To better characterize the molecular signals of cardiac hypertrophy we investigated markers for ribosome biogenesis. Factors involved in the transcription of ribosomal DNA (rDNA), RNA polymerase 1 and c‐Myc were not different between groups (p=0.97 and p=0.81), however, upstream binding factor (UBF) was increased in the SC group compared to KD (p=0.01). We also investigated markers of protein synthesis. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (EIF4E) was not statistically different between groups (p=0.41). Phosphorylated 4E binding protein 1 (4EBP1), the binding protein of EIF4E, was not statistically different between groups (p=0.38) nor was pan‐4EBP1 (p=0.93) along with the ratio of phosphorylated/pan 4EBP1 (p=0.54). Ribosomal protein L5 (RPL5) was not different between groups. Phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 (RPS6) was higher in the SC groups (p=0.05), while pan‐RPS6 was not significantly different (p=0.70), however, phosphorylated/pan RPS6 was not statistically different between groups (p=0.14). CONCLUSION The KD group did show a decrease in body weight, however, heart weights were not statistically different. although some molecular markers of ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis were higher in the SC group. Future studies are needed to better characterize these molecular markers on cardiac hypertrophy.