The Effects of Ketogenic Diet on the Heart and Brain

A ketogenic diet consists of a high intake of fats and a limited intake of carbohydrates, which causes an increased level of ketone bodies in the body. In recent years, it has been shown that the diet has cardiovascular protective effects. The investigators have also shown that ketone bodies act as super-gasoline for the heart. In addition, an increased level of ketone bodies will improve memory and comprehension in humans, possibly due to increased blood flow in the brain. The purpose of the experiment is to investigate how a ketogenic diet affects the heart and brain. The theory is that an increased level of ketone bodies will improve energy utilization in the heart by reducing oxygen deficiency in the heart as well as increasing blood flow in the brain. The study participants must go through two periods of 3 weeks, during which they must eat an ordinary Danish diet and a ketogenic diet, respectively. The periods end with an examination day, where blood samples and samples from muscle and fat tissue are taken. They will also be scanned with CT, PET and MRI scans to determine their body's ability to absorb sugar, fat and ketone bodies. The investigators expect the results to be of crucial importance for dietary recommendations for people at risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.