General Health

Ketogenic diet ameliorates attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in rats via regulating gut microbiota

🔬 Ketogenic Diet: A Potential Alternative for ADHD Treatment? 🥑

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent behavioral disorder affecting children and often continuing into adulthood. While medications like methylphenidate (MPH) are common treatments, alternative therapies are being explored. Recent studies have examined the role of the gut microbiota in neurological disorders, opening new treatment avenues.

A recent study by Liu et al. (2023) investigated the effects of the Ketogenic Diet (KD) on ADHD using rat models. Here are the key findings:

• Behavioral Improvements: Both KD and MPH significantly improved ADHD-like behaviors in rats, enhancing focus and reducing hyperactivity.
• Neurotransmitter Levels: Treatments elevated serotonin, cAMP, and norepinephrine levels, positively affecting brain chemistry.
• Gut Microbiota Changes: KD significantly altered gut microbiota, increasing beneficial bacterial groups and reducing others, impacting amino acid and sugar metabolism pathways.

These findings suggest that the Ketogenic Diet may offer a promising alternative treatment for ADHD by influencing gut microbiota and brain chemistry. However, further research, especially in human subjects, is needed.