This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I was just scouting around looking at Ketogenic Diet (KD) and diseases,
KD was the original treatment for epilepsy until drugs were available and has come back into use for drug resistant epilepsy with great success, studies have shown it can benefit a variety of diseases including Diabetes, Alzheimers, Metabolic Syndrome & NAFL and there is some research starting to look at Parkinsons.
I just stumbled across this link to a study on KD effect on MS, published may 2012, it was done on mice of course, but there may be something in it.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Ad ... ne.0035476
Inflammation-Mediated Memory Dysfunction and Effects of a Ketogenic Diet in a Murine Model of Multiple Sclerosis
Received: September 15, 2011; Accepted: March 18, 2012; Published: May 2, 2012

In summary, we have shown that memory deficits in EAE mice are correlated with brain inflammation as evidenced by the enhanced expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. And importantly, the KD significantly attenuated brain inflammation and reversed both memory dysfunction and motor impairment in EAE mice. There is mounting evidence that metabolic substrates (and certain hormones) can reduce inflammatory responses, and as a consequence provide both structural and functional neuroprotective effects. Since the KD is currently available in many clinical centers throughout the world, patients with MS may readily benefit from this non-pharmacological treatment option. In light of the present study and supportive evidence from the literature noted above, prospective, controlled clinical trials assessing the therapeutic effects of the KD now appear warranted.

_________________
I am just an interested individual trying to crack the autoimmune nut.
Partner has Graves Disease, 5 years, showing good test results, looking forward to potential remission in the near future.
3 friends have MS, 1 just recently diagnosed, severity 7/10.

Just did a search here, found it has already been posted by Ted in a different section
post191893.html?hilit=Ketogenic#p191893

I do think the topic is worthy of further discussion though

_________________
I am just an interested individual trying to crack the autoimmune nut.
Partner has Graves Disease, 5 years, showing good test results, looking forward to potential remission in the near future.
3 friends have MS, 1 just recently diagnosed, severity 7/10.

Ketones are why I added coconut oil to my diet.
It's an alternate source of energy for the brain and if the brain happens to be impaired mitochondrially or vascularly in a way that limits the availability or usability of glucose, ketones may still be able to provide energy.
When we burn stored fat, it is released as ketones.

To get the full effects of Ketosis, there must also be a restriction of Sugar (simple carbs & starch etc.), otherwise the body does not build up the mitochondria and other machinery required for effective fat metabolism, this is best done with a progressively tightening restriction on sugar intake, firstly getting the Insulin rollercoaster leveled out, this will reduce intensity of sugar cravings, which are the result of Insulin resistance. Basically glucose levels fall, and the body cries out for fuel, but can't get access to fat stores because high Insulin blocks this pathway, so the extreme hunger pains are real, so you throw in a whack of sugar and all is good till the next dive on the rollercoaster in 3 hours. I the body is allowed to gradually adjust the extreme hunger pains subside because Insulin levels are lowered and when blood sugar falls, then the body switches some functions to fat metabolism to maintain required blood sugar level.
My leanings are obviously to the Paleo end, but that is only after a lot of reading & research, personally I believe High Carb dependance is the first step in Chronic Disease, just name your flavour, High blood sugar & Insulin resistance develop, blocking fat metabolism pathways and result in systemic inflamation, which opens the door to hormone & nutritional imbalances, viral & autoimmune responses etc.
I think carb intake needs to be restricted primarily by eliminating grains & refined sugars, Fruit & Veg are fine, (provided you don't go wild on Juicing which turns complex carb into High GI), the solouble fibre content slows absorption of sugars into the blood stream and then the solouble fibres are fermented/digested in the lower intestine to Short Chain Fatty acids which power gut directly and are absorbed by the Lymph and transported to the blood stream, by passing the liver, whereas high sugar diet puts additional load on the liver.
The more I read, the more it seems to be the right direction for dietary health, but I do not know what the implications are for individuals that are dealing with chronic disease.
The Ketogenic diet concept seems to be on the other end of the scale of the Swank diet, so there is an obvious question regarding that, the primary distinction being the aspect of High GI/High GL foods like Grains & Starchy tubers being included in the Swank protocol, most of the other MS & Healing diets I have looked at fit the model because they usually have a restriction on grains particularly and then post that whether it is the intake of healthy fats or low GI Fruit & Veg (high fibre), both ultimately end up as fats before absorption into the body.
There are I assume individuals out there who have done the Paleo Diet, Best Bet & Wahls etc. some with success and many not, why the different responses?, I can't say, it is obviously a complex issue, but all other things being equal, I tend to feel the best bet on a healthy diet requires a major restriction of High GI foods, but seems there is a significant range to balance the Meat/Fat : Fruit/Veg ratios.
Bit of a rave, hey, sorry bout that will jump off soap box now.

_________________
I am just an interested individual trying to crack the autoimmune nut.
Partner has Graves Disease, 5 years, showing good test results, looking forward to potential remission in the near future.
3 friends have MS, 1 just recently diagnosed, severity 7/10.