Effect of Ketogenic Diet and Intermittent Fasting on Complete Freund's Adjuvant Induced Inflammation in Rats

Background: Chronic low grade inflammation is an essential pathological feature of various Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs). Carbohydrate rich food an important modifiable risk factor contributing to NCDs can be restricted by Ketogenic Diet (KD) or Intermittent Fasting (IF). So the present study was taken up to evaluate the role of the above interventions in inflammation induced by Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) in male Wistar rats. Aim and Objectives: To evaluate the role of KD and IF in a model of inflammation induced by CFA in rats. Material and Methods: Animals were divided into 4 equal groups of 10 rats each. Groups were based on diet given. Group I - Control fed with standard diet; Group II - KD; Group III - IF and Group IV- Disease free group on standard diet. CFA injection into the hind paw 4 weeks after starting the diet was made in all groups except in group IV after which serum cytokines and oxidative stress markers were measured on day 21. Results: KD and IF groups showed significantly lower inflammation in terms of paw edema volume and serum cytokines namely TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta as compared to the control group. The KD and IF groups also showed lower oxidative stress in terms of lower serum Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Species (TBARS) and less depletion of antioxidant enzymes namely superoxide dismutase and catalase as compared to control group. Conclusion: The present study proves that it is possible to lower inflammation and hence prevent NCDs by IF and KD. Since the impact of both interventions on inflammation is similar, IF may be preferable to KD because, carbohydrate is present in a sizeable amount in most foodstuffs that we consume and daily restriction of carbohydrate in the form of KD may not be a feasible option. Hence, IF alone may be a better option than daily carbohydrate restriction in the form of KD.