The Ketogenic Diet: Effects on Human Metabolism and Brain Health
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Metabolism".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2025 | Viewed by 29
Special Issue Editors
Interests: adipose tissue; adiponectin; obesity; nutrition; physical activity; orexinergic system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The ketogenic diet (KD), traditionally used in the treatment of refractory epilepsy, has emerged as a powerful metabolic intervention with wide-ranging effects on human health. This Special Issue explores the expanding scientific landscape of the KD, focusing on its impact across metabolic and neurological domains. By shifting the body’s primary fuel source from glucose to ketone bodies, KD induces profound changes in energy metabolism, insulin sensitivity, lipid regulation, and inflammatory status. Beyond its metabolic benefits, KD has shown promise in supporting neurological function, with implications for conditions such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and mood disorders. Key molecular mediators—including orexin, which is involved in sleep–wake regulation and energy balance, and adiponectin, a hormone associated with insulin sensitivity and anti-inflammatory activity—are highlighted as central to the diet’s systemic and neuroprotective effects. This Special Issue brings together cutting-edge research and clinical insights to examine the mechanisms, therapeutic applications, and potential limitations of KD. By bridging metabolic and neurobiological perspectives, these collected works aim to deepen our understanding of how leveraging dietary strategies can promote brain health and systemic homeostasis.
Prof. Dr. Rita Polito
Prof. Dr. Giovanni Messina
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- ketogenic diet
- ketone bodies
- human metabolism
- brain health
- cognitive function
- neuroprotection
- insulin sensitivity
- adiponectin
- orexin
- inflammation
- lipid metabolism
- epilepsy
- neurodegenerative diseases
- nutritional therapy
- metabolic flexibility
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