The Positive Impacts of the Ketogenic Diet across Multiple Chronic Diseases

By Holly Robinson MSN, RN

Dominic D’Agostino, Ph.D, a neuroscience, molecular pharmacology, and physiology researcher and professor at the University of South Florida was our featured speaker Oct. 25th at the Life Enhancement lecture series sponsored by Marius Robinson.

Dr. Dom’s pioneering research began in association with Nasa and the Navy Seals as an exploration of the hyperoxygenation benefits to the health of the human body, as produced in a hyperbaric environment. This work soon led to the avenues of brain protection during decreased and increased states of oxygen exposure where ketogenesis has shown remarkable promise, not only in brain health but in the treatment of several disease processes. Because the implications include applications both as an adjunct to traditional medical therapies in treating cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, and alzheimer’s, and as the sole treatment when other modalities have failed, major funders have joined in on this exciting field of study.

At this time there are fourteen approved applications for hyperbaric oxygen treatment and over thirty-tree clinical trials being conducted on the health benefits of the ketogenic diet, a huge increase in the past few years. It has long been appreciated that exposure to a hyperoxygenated atmosphere can drastically improve outcomes for issues brain health, wound healing, and cancer abatement, but the brain’s limits on how much oxygen it can handle before seizure onset has put barriers on its use.

The ketogenic diet, with is brain protective qualities, has removed those limitations opening the research to a flood of new implications for health and healing. Dr. Dom has been at the very forefront of this research for over a decade and has developed several patented keto supplements in the form of esters and salts which can assist in the attainment of the desired ketogenic state. Today a modified keto diet of 85% fat and 15% protein can be achieved with dietary modification and use of these supplements.

Our audience consisted of some new to the keto diet and others who are big proponents of the diet and followers of Dom’s work. In our own community, many of our residents have found application and major benefits of a ketogenic diet in seizure control, weight loss, muscle building, improved energy levels, diabetes management, and brain function maintenance and improvement. As with all emerging science we urge you to explore you’re your own health care team the potential benefits and risks to your particular health.

We were honored and thrilled to have this popular and respected scientist as our guest for conversation, education, and inspiration! Dr. D’Agostino’s work can be found at ketonutrition.org.