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Ketone bodies, glycolysis, and K ATP channels in the mechanism of the ketogenic diet
Author(s) -
Yellen Gary
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2008.01843.x
Subject(s) - ketogenic diet , ketone bodies , glycolysis , anticonvulsant , epilepsy , ketone , mechanism (biology) , chemistry , medicine , pharmacology , endocrinology , neuroscience , biochemistry , biology , metabolism , philosophy , organic chemistry , epistemology
SummaryThe ketogenic diet (KD) has shown remarkable efficacy in the treatment of drug‐resistant childhood epilepsy. Our understanding of how the KD produces its anticonvulsant and antiepileptogenic effects remains incomplete, which is perhaps not surprising for a biological manipulation as sweeping as dietary change. Several hypotheses focus on ketone bodies, fuel molecules that circulate at millimolar concentrations in the blood of patients on a KD, as causative agents. Here I consider some recent evidence for one such hypothesis, involving a possible role for altered glycolysis and consequent activation of a class of potassium channels called KATPchannels.