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Mitochondria: The ketogenic diet—A metabolism-based therapy

Authors :
René G. Feichtinger
Bridget Lambert
Barbara Kofler
Silvia Vidali
Wolfgang Sperl
Tricia Rutherford
Sepideh Aminzadeh
Source :
The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology. 63:55-59
Publication Year :
2015
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2015.

Abstract

Mitochondria are the energy-producing organelles of the cell, generating ATP via oxidative phosphorylation mainly by using pyruvate derived from glycolytic processing of glucose. Ketone bodies generated by fatty acid oxidation can serve as alternative metabolites for aerobic energy production. The ketogenic diet, which is high in fat and low in carbohydrates, mimics the metabolic state of starvation, forcing the body to utilize fat as its primary source of energy. The ketogenic diet is used therapeutically for pharmacoresistant epilepsy and for "rare diseases" of glucose metabolism (glucose transporter type 1 and pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency). As metabolic reprogramming from oxidative phosphorylation toward increased glycolysis is a hallmark of cancer cells; there is increasing evidence that the ketogenic diet may also be beneficial as an adjuvant cancer therapy by potentiating the antitumor effect of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. This article is part of a Directed Issue entitled: Energy Metabolism Disorders and Therapies.

Details

ISSN :
13572725
Volume :
63
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....abae074b43a73b964f5eb68234115ff8
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocel.2015.01.022