A Ketogenic Diet Increases the Resistance to Pentylenetetrazole‐Induced Seizures in the Rat

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Abstract
Summary: Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a ketogenic diet would increase the resistance of rats to pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)‐induced seizures and to understand the relation of ketonemia to seizure resistance. Methods: A freely consumed, high‐fat (ketogenic) diet was administered to male Sprague‐Dawley rats for 5–10 weeks, while control animals were fed either rodent chow or a high‐carbohydrate diet. Ketonemia was measured as plasma levels of β‐hydroxybutyric acid (β‐OHB). Seizures were induced by tail‐vein infusion of pentylenetetrazole. Results: The ketogenic diet produced a highly significant (p Conclusions: The ketogenic diet resulted in an increased seizure threshold, confirming the hypothesis, and seizure threshold was found to be a direct function of the level of ketonemia.