The harms of ketogenic diet on the brain
May 29, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Jun
Introduction
In general, the ketogenic diet may harm the brain by affecting development, causing dysfunction, and leading to brain damage. In addition, it may also result in other health risks such as pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy, and shock. If obvious symptoms of discomfort occur, patients should promptly seek medical attention to determine the exact condition and actively cooperate with doctors for treatment.
Under normal circumstances, the ketogenic diet may harm the brain by affecting development, causing dysfunction, and leading to brain damage. The specific analysis is as follows:
1. Impaired Development
The ketogenic diet typically refers to a dietary pattern that is very low in carbohydrates, moderate in protein, and high in fat. Due to its extremely low carbohydrate content, long-term adherence may lead to nutritional imbalances in the body, thereby negatively affecting brain development.
2. Dysfunction
The ketogenic diet contains minimal sugar. Prolonged use may trigger hypoglycemia due to insufficient energy supply, resulting in brain dysfunction, manifesting as irritability, slowed reactions, and other adverse effects.
3. Brain Damage
The purpose of the ketogenic diet is to induce ketosis or promote ketone body production. However, it may cause excessively high levels of ketones in the blood, leading to accumulation of ketone bodies and resulting in ketoacidosis. This can damage the brain and disrupt the body's acid-base balance and electrolyte levels.
In addition, this condition may also lead to other risks such as pancreatitis, myocardial disease, and shock. If significant discomfort symptoms occur, patients should promptly seek medical attention at a hospital to determine the exact condition and actively cooperate with treatment prescribed by doctors.
