Nutritional strategies cause memory damage and alter biochemical parameters without causing neuroinflammation

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Neuroscience
• Metabolic Health

Background:

• Obesity is a global epidemic driven by energy imbalance, classified as a chronic inflammatory disease with comorbidities.
• Nutritional strategies like low-carbohydrate (LC), ketogenic diets (KD), and intermittent fasting (IF) are employed for weight loss, inducing metabolic and behavioral shifts.
• These diets impact various biochemical pathways, necessitating an investigation into their effects on brain function and metabolism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of LC, KD, and IF on memory, energy metabolism, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defenses in mice.
• To compare the biochemical and behavioral outcomes of different popular weight-loss diets.
• To understand the neurobiological impact of short-term dietary interventions.

Main Methods:

• Eighty male Swiss mice were divided into four groups: control, LC diet, KD, or IF for 15 days.
• Weekly body weight and bi-hourly food intake were monitored.
• Behavioral testing (object recognition), visceral fat measurement, and brain biochemical analyses were performed post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Low-carbohydrate (LC) and ketogenic diets (KD) were associated with memory impairment.
• Intermittent fasting (IF) demonstrated improved adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, indicating enhanced energy metabolism.
• None of the dietary strategies (LC, KD, IF) induced neuroinflammation, but all presented evidence of oxidative stress.

Conclusions:

• LC and KD diets may negatively impact memory function.
• IF enhances cellular energy production (ATP synthesis).
• While not causing neuroinflammation, LC, KD, and IF interventions induce oxidative stress in the brain.