Discover how targeting brain metabolism with a ketogenic diet could transform the approach to this challenging eating disorder. Review: Therapeutic ketogenic diet as treatment for anorexia nervosa . Image Credit: Patnaree Asavacharanitich A recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition presented a neurobiological model supporting a therapeutic ketogenic diet (TKD) for anorexia nervosa (AN).
This model integrates behavioral traits, brain neural energy metabolism, and neurotransmitter function, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding how TKD might address the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of AN. AN is a severe, chronic psychiatric illness characterized by severe emaciation, food avoidance, and a perception of being overweight. AN has a high disease burden, treatment cost, and frequent relapse.
Besides, treatment effectiveness is limited, and the mortality rate is 12 times higher in females aged 15–24 compared to death from all causes. Further, upon weight recovery in people with AN (wrAN), fears of body dissatisfaction, body image distortion, and weight gain are elevated, which may persist for years. The neural mechanisms underlying self-starvation are unclear.
Therefore, understanding the core behaviors in AN and wrAN can help develop effective therapies. The present study proposed a neurobiological model supporting TKD for AN, which not only targets the metabolic alterations associated with the disorder but also addresses the psychologic.