Case Report

The ketogenic diet and MetSyn in Parkinson’s disease – Symptoms, biomarkers, depression and anxiety: A case study

Melanie M. Tidman
Journal of Metabolic Health | Vol 7, No 1 | a93 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jmh.v7i1.93 | © 2024 Melanie M. Tidman | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 22 November 2023 | Published: 30 April 2024

About the author(s)

Melanie M. Tidman, College of Graduate Health Studies, Faculty of Health Science, A.T. Still University, Mesa, United States of America

Abstract

The use of therapeutic carbohydrate restriction (TCR) in the form of a ketogenic diet (KD) in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) is increasing as an alternative treatment for primary and secondary symptoms. There exists a gap in the literature on symptoms of PD in the setting of metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) and possible comorbid impact on symptoms, biomarkers of health, cardiac risk, depression and anxiety. This case report documents a 24-week KD intervention for a 53-year-old man with multiple comorbid diagnoses, PD (Hoehn-Yahr stage IIa) with a history of morbid obesity with increased waist circumference, prediabetes, hyperinsulinaemia and significantly impaired mobility with chronic back pain, anxiety disorder and depression. Baseline cardiac risk ratios (CRR = triglycerides/HDL) were calculated and compared. The KD approach involved a well-formulated, ketogenic diet (fats 70%; protein 25%; carbohydrates 5% according to total daily energy intake for 24 weeks). Baseline, 12-week and 24-week biomarkers and scores on scales were compared. Clinically significant results were found when baseline biomarker results and scales were compared with 12-week results. Positive trends were seen for all variables at 24 weeks. Improvements in health biomarkers, including HbA1C, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), triglycerides, fasting insulin, weight loss, waist circumference and cardiac risk were observed at 12 and 24 weeks. Some improvements in scores on an anxiety scale were seen. Based on our findings, KD is safe and effective for improving health biomarkers and symptoms of MetSyn, depression, anxiety and symptoms of PD. Future clinical trial studies for more generalisable results are needed.


Keywords

neurodegenerative disease; metabolic syndrome; obesity; low carb; ketogenic diet; symptoms; anxiety; depression; biomarkers; Parkinson’s disease

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