Radiographic study of mandibular alterations resulting from aketogenic diet in growing rats

This study analyzes the development of mandibular condyles and its likely impact on the direction of mandibular displacement during maxillofacial development in a ketogenic diet model in growing rats.

Twenty male Wistar rats, weaned at 21 days, were assigned to one of the following groups: control (fed a regular hard diet ad libitum) and experimental (fed a ketogenic hard diet, ad libitum). After 30 days of diet, ketonemia was determined and animals were euthanized. The mandibles were resected, hemisected at the symphysis and fixed in 10% formalin. Remaining soft tissues were removed. Metallic landmarks were placed in the mandibular foramens of one hemimandible of each rat. The hemimandibles were radiographed and cephalometric study was performed on paper tracings of the projected image of the radiographs. Data obtained were analyzed with Student's "t" Test.

Food consumed was lower in the experimental group. Body weight was 179±1 g in controls, and 128±11 g in the experimental group, p<0.05. Ketonemia was 0.29±0.042mmol/l in controls and 1.89±0.7 mmol/l in the experimental group, p<0.05. Condylar process length and angular process convexity were significantly lower in the experimental group.

These results suggest that the ketogenic diet alters the development of the condylar process and the angle of the mandible in rats, promoting a dolichofacial growth pattern.