The MCT Ketogenic Diet: Effects on Animal Seizure Models

Male Wistar rat pups were weaned at 20 days of age and placed on either a control diet or a ketogenic diet containing medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil. After 10 days on the diets, they were subjected to one of four seizure tests-maximal electric shock, threshold electroconvulsive shock, threshold pentylenetetrazol, or maximal pentylenetetrazol. After testing, subjects were sacrificed and blood samples were analyzed for beta-hydroxybutyrate concentration. It was found that the MCT diet produced blood levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate that were comparable to or higher than those commonly reported in clinical studies. However, no anticonvulsant effects were seen in any of the seizure tests. In fact, the tests involving maximal seizures actually showed proconvulsant effects. It appears that clinical levels of ketones may be present in the bloodstream without suppressing seizures.