Ketogenic Diet and Substance Abuse Disorder

Dominic D’Agostino is a University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine KetoNutrition researcher who focuses on supplementation, muscle function, ketone ester and ketone salt technologies. A research area Dominic D’Agostino focuses on ketogenic diet treatments for those with substance use disorders (SUDs) and alcoholism.

When it comes to alcohol use disorder (AUD), acute alcohol use leads to metabolic changes. The brain breaks down the alcohol product acetate rather than consuming glucose. When AUD patients cease drinking, glucose starts to rise again and acetate levels drop. This metabolism shift can cause alcohol withdrawal symptoms, mental impairment and resulting neurotoxicity.

A ketogenic diet suppresses insulin signaling, and fuel comes from the additional fat stores on our body and from the diet. In tandem with enhanced fat metabolism, the ketone bodies that are generated include acetoacetate, BHB (B-hydroxybutyrate), and acetate. Ketone bodies function as a “superfuel” for the brain and have well-characterized neuroprotective function. In addition, ketone bodies serve important signaling roles that can help to restore brain energy homeostasis, neurotransmitter levels and reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.

The body’s metabolism becomes more aligned with the elevated acetate associated with AUD and alcohol. This mitigates withdrawal symptoms as noted in a rat model study. The rodents that went through ketogenic diet treatment displayed lower levels of irritability and rigidity. The reduced withdraw and improved behavioral effects associated with the ketogenic diet have a wide range of implications for substance use disorder. Clinical trials are currently in progress using ketone supplements.

For more information, about nutrition, ketone supplements, brain health and metabolic optimization please visit KetoNutrition.org.