Therapeutic ketosis for mild traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common in the United States, especially in the athlete and pediatric populations. Treatment options to expedite the recovery process are limited. The immediate disruption of cellular metabolism in the brain contributes to the pathophysiological cascade that occurs after a TBI. Recent studies show that providing ketone bodies via supplementation, a very-low-carbohydrate diet, or fasting improves cellular metabolism and reduces the pathophysiological features of a TBI. The current review presents the damaging physiological processes that occur after a mild TBI and illustrates the potential therapeutic nature of ketosis as it relates to each occurrence including ionic imbalance, mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic deficiencies, oxidative stress, cerebral blood flow, and neuroinflammation.