A new international study conducted on a trial basis by Tel Aviv University found that a ketogenic diet may reduce the effects of post-traumatic brain damage.
This study shows that diet improves spatial and visual memory, lowers the inflammatory index of the brain, causes neuronal cell death, and slows the rate of cell aging.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and long-term disability in developed countries. It is estimated that more than 10 million people worldwide suffer from traumatic brain injury each year as a result of head injuries caused by hard objects, blows, explosions, road accidents, sports injuries and more.
Such trauma can cause physical, cognitive, behavioral and emotional damage and is also a risk factor for illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
At this time, despite the high frequency of brain damage, there is no proven effective treatment that can help people suffering from this damage.
Meirav Har-Even Kerzhner, a registered dietitian and brain researcher at TAU, said that the ketogenic diet with varying food consumption in general is based on high fat percentage and aims to mimic fasting conditions. Explaining.
As part of the diet, the consumption of carbohydrate-containing foods (bread, sugar, grains, legumes, snacks, pastries, and even fruits) is severely restricted, and at the expense of this restriction, high fats such as meat. You can also take the product. , Fish, eggs, avocado, butter, etc. – Eatable.
This is a long-lasting diet. Diet increases the production of ketone bodies in the liver, which is used to produce energy. These ketone bodies travel through the bloodstream to the brain to provide optimal nutrition.
This diet has been used as a treatment for children with epilepsy in Israel and around the world for almost 100 years, but in recent years the ketogenic diet has become popular among those who want to lose weight.
Please note that due to the high nutritional restrictions, you should consult your doctor or registered dietitian.
In a study conducted on model animals, researchers found that a ketogenic diet significantly improved patient brain function. To this end, researchers have conducted advanced research, among other things, including behavioral cognitive tests, biochemical tests, and immunohistochemical cell staining, a biological technique for the detection and placement of proteins in tissue cross-sections. I used the method. The mechanism by which a ketogenic diet succeeds in benefiting the consequences of brain damage has not yet been fully elucidated, but studies have shown that mitochondria (essential organelles in cells, their main function is energy). It has been shown to have antioxidant and metabolic effects against (production and respiration), lowering free radical production and increasing ATP (a major molecule in cell biochemical channels).
Professor Chaim (Chagi) Pick of TAU, who led the research, said: Cell aging. These results may open the door to further research that stimulates hope for people suffering from traumatic brain injury and their families. “
