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Nutritional Ketosis as a Potential Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
Vikrant R Mahajan1, Sophie K Elvig2, Leandro F Vendruscolo2
1Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
|December 17, 2021
Summary
Nutritional ketosis may help reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms and cravings. This dietary intervention, involving ketone bodies, shows promise as a novel treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Metabolic disorders
- Addiction research
Background:
- Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic brain condition with compulsive alcohol seeking and disrupted function.
- Abstinence from alcohol in individuals with AUD can trigger severe, potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.
- Current treatments for AUD often require augmentation to effectively manage withdrawal and cravings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence supporting nutritional ketosis as a potential intervention for reducing alcohol withdrawal and craving.
- To explore the underlying mechanisms of action for ketosis in the context of AUD.
- To evaluate the efficacy of nutritional ketosis in preclinical and clinical studies for AUD.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing scientific literature on nutritional ketosis and alcohol use disorder.
- Analysis of metabolic shifts during alcohol intoxication and withdrawal, focusing on glucose and acetate metabolism.
- Examination of studies involving ketogenic diets or ketone ester ingestion to induce nutritional ketosis.
- Assessment of preclinical (animal) and clinical (human) data on the effects of ketosis on AUD symptoms.
Main Results:
- Alcohol intoxication involves a shift towards acetate metabolism, which is amplified in AUD.
- Alcohol withdrawal is associated with declining acetate levels, potentially causing energy deficits and neurotoxicity.
- Nutritional ketosis, achieved through ketogenic diets or ketone esters, elevates plasma and brain ketone bodies.
- Studies indicate that nutritional ketosis can reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and consumption.
Conclusions:
- Nutritional ketosis presents a potential therapeutic strategy for alcohol use disorder (AUD).
- This nutritional intervention may alleviate withdrawal symptoms and reduce alcohol craving.
- Ketosis can be used as a standalone treatment or as an adjunct to existing medications for AUD.
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