A new UC Davis Health study found that a ketogenic program improves muscle function in older animals by preventing muscle mass loss due to age.
The lead author of the study is the molecular exercise physiologist Keith Baar, a professor in the Departments of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior and of Physiology and Membrane Biology.
In this Q&A, he shares his latest research on the keto program, its effect on muscle growth and brain health.
What is a ketogenic or a keto program you ask?
A ketogenic or keto program includes eating high-fat, low-carbohydrate foods to reach a state of ketosis.
In ketosis, the body burns more fat for fuel, instead of sugar, and produces acids known as ketones.
The keto program is widely known as a weight-loss program, but it also has a far-reaching effect on the muscles and the brain.
First, there is a difference between what we’re doing in our studies and the keto program used for weight loss.
While they give a high-fat, low-carb program, they provide the same number of calories to maintain weight neutrality (no gain or loss).
So, their studies are not looking to control body weight or body fat percentage, but to improve body function by mimicking the effect of exercise with a program.
Naturally, people lose muscle mass and endurance with age.
Older muscles lose their mitochondria, the power engines of the cells.
Mitochondria not only produce energy, they also help the body break down harmful metabolites known as kynurenines.
An older white woman doing a squat with a kettlebell, while participating in a co-ed, multi-ethnic, fitness class.
Similar to exercise, keto program can enhance skeletal muscle function in elderly
Both exercise and a keto program can increase the number of mitochondria in muscles.
The more fit we are, the more muscle mitochondria we have, and the more energy our muscles can make from fat, the better we are at breaking down potential neurotoxins.
These are chemicals that destroy the nerve tissues and harm the nervous system.
Studies show that when we give animals a ketogenic program, they maintain their muscle strength and their endurance into old age.
They also maintain their muscle mass.
A keto program therefore prevents muscle deterioration and even restores muscle function.
Does a keto program improve brain functions, such as learning and memory?
A keto program has also shown positive results as far as how the brain works. It has been used for many years to treat epilepsy and other neurocognitive diseases.
They were looking to see if a keto program can help treat age-related neurological decline and potentially Alzheimer’s disease.
One way we think the keto program works is, the enzymes that the muscle produces break down neurotoxins and prevent them from getting into the brain.
These enzymes protect the brain from cell loss and improve brain function.
They also know that neurocognitive decline is different between men and women.
It tends to have a stronger and earlier impact on women.
In their studies, we had seen that a keto program in older male mouse models was beneficial for the brains, but for those at midlife, there was a minimal effect. When we did the same study in females, it was interesting to find that middle aged females had learning and memory benefits.
In humans, that would be closer to age 50.
So, there’s the potential for a keto intervention to provide a greater benefit for females at a younger age.
When you try to sprint, your body needs to produce energy faster and more efficiently. Our bodies are less efficient at burning fat.”