Can a Ketogenic Diet Reduce Damage from TBI?

February 22, 2022, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

The University of Tel Aviv has published results of their research into whether a ketogenic diet can reduce damage from TBI (traumatic brain injury). Keto diets have been used for over 100 in the treatment of epilepsy in children and now it offers some hope for those with TBI.

The TAU (Tel Aviv University) study concluded that the diet can improve spatial and visual memory, lower brain inflammation, reduce neuronal death, and slow cellular aging in those individuals with TBI.

A ketogenic diet is one characterized by changing the consumption of common foods. It is a high-fat low-carb diet that mimics fasting. Bread, sugar, grains, snacks, sweets and fruit are significantly restricted while meat, fish and eggs, avocado butter and other high fat and high protein foods are eaten.

The study found that:

“The findings were unequivocal and showed that the ketogenic diet improves spatial memory and visual memory, lowers indices of inflammation in the brain and in addition, also slows the rate of cellular aging,” says Prof. Pick. “These results may open the door to further research that will inspire hope for those suffering from traumatic brain injuries and their family members.”

You can read the entire press release here and below. 

If you or a loved one have TBI you should speak with your health care provider before making any changes to your diet. If your injury is a result of someone else’s negligence secure your future by contacting our experienced personal injury lawyers today.

Ketogenic Diet Likely to Reduce Damage from Traumatic Brain Injuries

TAU-led study finds diet improves spatial and visual memory, lowers signs of brain inflammation, reduces neuronal death and slows down cellular aging

25 January 2022

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the developed world. It is estimated that every year over 10 million people worldwide suffer from traumatic brain injury as a result of head injuries caused by a hard object, a blow, an explosion, road accidents, sports injuries, etc. Such traumas can lead to physical, cognitive, behavioral and emotional damage and is also a risk factor for diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

At this point, despite the high frequency of brain injuries, there is no proven effective treatment that can help those suffering from this injury.

A new international study piloted by the Tel Aviv University determines that a ketogenic diet may reduce the effects of brain damage after traumatic injury. The study indicates that the diet improves spatial memory and visual memory, lowers brain inflammation indices, causes less neuronal death and slows down the rate of cellular aging.

The study was led by Prof. Chaim (Chagi) Pick, Director of the Sylvan Adams Sports Institute and a member of the Sagol School of Neuroscience, and Ph.D. student Meirav Har-Even Kerzhner, a registered dietitian and brain researcher, both from the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University. The findings were published in Scientific Reports, a syndicate journal from the publishers of Nature.

What does a ketogenic diet consist of?

A ketogenic diet which involves changes in the consumption of common foods is based on high-fat percentages and aims to mimic a state of fasting. As part of the diet, the intake of foods that contain carbohydrates (e.g., bread, sugar, grains, legumes, snacks, pastries and even fruits) are significantly restricted and, at the expense of this restriction, high-fat products such as meat, fish, eggs, avocado, butter etc. - are eaten.

This is a diet that can be continued for extended periods of time. The diet causes an increased production of ketone bodies in the liver that are used to generate energy. These ketone bodies are transferred via the bloodstream to the brain providing optimal nourishment.

The diet has been used as a treatment in Israel and around the world for almost 100 years, among children with epilepsy, while in recent years, the ketogenic diet has become popular among those who want to lose weight. It is important to note that, due to the significant nutritional restrictions, it is necessary to consult with a professional such as a doctor or a registered dietitian.

Inspiring Hope

In the study, conducted on model animals, the researchers identified that the ketogenic diet greatly improves the patient's brain function. For this purpose, the researchers used advanced methods that included, among other things, behavioral-cognitive tests, biochemical tests and immunohistochemical cell staining (a technique in biology for the detection and placement of proteins in a cross section of tissue). The mechanism by which a ketogenic diet succeeds in benefiting the results of brain damage has not yet been fully revealed, but studies show that it has an antioxidant and metabolic effect on mitochondria (essential organelles in the cell, the its primary function of which is energy production and respiration), lowers free radical production and raises ATP (a major molecule in cellular biochemical channels). 

“The findings were unequivocal and showed that the ketogenic diet improves spatial memory and visual memory, lowers indices of inflammation in the brain and in addition, also slows the rate of cellular aging,” says Prof. Pick. “These results may open the door to further research that will inspire hope for those suffering from traumatic brain injuries, and their family members.”

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