The Case for Keto-Mediet with Coconut for Brain Metabolic Dysfunction
Over 5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with nearly 14 million expected to receive an AD diagnosis by the year 2050. AD is the most common form of dementia and is characterized by progressive brain changes thought to be related to decades of impaired brain glucose metabolism. A recent review article explored lifestyle modalities to mitigate this underlying brain metabolic dysfunction. The dietary approach combined the ketogenic and Mediterranean diets, while also replacing saturated fats from animal sources with coconut alternatives (rich in medium-chain triglycerides [MCTs]) and encouraging a high diversity of plant foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.
Ketogenic MCTs and Brain Energy Rescue in Alzheimer’s
For decades, research efforts to combat AD have targeted neuropathological features of the disease (amyloid plaques, tau dysregulation, and tangle formation) with little success. Research has shown that glucose hypometabolism is an early hallmark of AD, while brain ketone metabolism remains intact. A potential therapeutic approach in AD is to provide an energy substrate that bypasses the deficit in brain glucose utilization. Researchers from the University of Sherbrooke recently investigated whether brain ketone uptake increased in patients with AD in response to supplementation with ketogenic MCTs, caprylic acid (C8) vs. a mixture of caprylic and capric acids (C8C10), in a crossover study design.
NEW Clinical Tool: Ketogenic Nutrition Masters Course
This Nutrition Masters Course contains evidence-based research insights for the ketogenic dietary pattern, including the:

  • Impact of dietary macronutrient composition in human health
  • Focus on low-carbohydrate approaches
  • Physiological mechanisms underlying nutritional ketosis
  • Clinical outcomes, safety, and monitoring guidance for the ketogenic diet
  • Targeted nutritional supplement support strategies for a ketogenic regimen
Scott Bergman, DC
Ryan Lazarus, DC, MS, CNS, IFMCP
Jeff Volek, PhD, RD

Thursday, July 19, 2018
11-11:20 AM PT
Tomorrow’s Metagenics Advanced Practitioner Services (MAPS) talk is “The Ketogenic Diet: An Introduction,” which is Part 1 of a 3-part MAPS talk series with Drs. Scott Bergman, Ryan Lazarus, and Jeff Volek. Various aspects of the ketogenic diet will be discussed, including historical use, macronutrient ratios, therapeutic benefits, common misconceptions, and much more. The insights from this expert Q&A discussion will provide you with a solid foundation on the research and clinical evidence basis for the ketogenic diet and how this dietary pattern can help improve your patients’ health.
Metagenics Institute is a trusted, peer-to-peer, evidence-based educational resource for nutrition and personalized medicine. This center of excellence translates credible research with scientific integrity into innovative clinical decision-making. Metagenics Institute supports a diverse practitioner base to optimize patient outcomes by shifting existing paradigms in healthcare
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