Somatic and reflex development in suckling rats: effects of mother treatment with ketogenic diet associated with lack of protein
Authors: Soares, Ana Karla Ferrer1; Guerra, Renata G.S.1; de Castro, Mylena Lucena1; Amancio-dos-Santos, Angela2; Guedes, Rubem Carlos Araújo1; Cabral-Filho, José Eulálio1; Costa, José Audísio1; Medeiros, Maria do Carmo1
Source: Nutritional Neuroscience, Volume 12, Number 6, December 2009 , pp. 260-266(7)
Publisher: Maney Publishing
- Free Content
- New Content
- Subscribed Content
- Free Trial Content
Abstract:
Ketogenic diets influence brain function and have been therapeutically used for anti-epileptic purposes. We investigated the effects of maternal ketogenic diets on the development of somatic and reflex responses in rat pups. These were born from mothers receiving: (i) normal fat (7%) + normal protein (17%); (ii) high-fat (55.4%) + normal protein; (iii) normal fat + low protein (8%); and (iv) high-fat + low protein (respectively, called N-17, K-17, N-8 and K-8). Ketogenic diets, but not the normal-fat diets, delayed the development of reflex and somatic responses. The effects were more evident when the ketogenic diet was associated with low protein content. The results suggest that fat excess can alter brain maturation, and this action is intensified by early protein-deficiency. Data raise concerns about the therapeutic use of ketogenic diets in newborn children.Keywords: KETOGENIC DIET; RAT; REFLEX RESPONSES DEVELOPMENT; SOMATIC DEVELOPMENT
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1179/147683009X423427
Affiliations: 1: Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil 2: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
- Free Content
- New Content
- Subscribed Content
- Free Trial Content
Click here for Page Help