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Kynurenic Acid and Neuroprotective Activity of the Ketogenic Diet in the Eye
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Kynurenic Acid and Neuroprotective Activity of the Ketogenic Diet in the Eye

Tomasz Zarnowski, Maria Tulidowicz-Bielak, Iwona Zarnowska, Krystyna Mitosek-Szewczyk, Artur Wnorowski, Krzysztof Jozwiak, Maciej Gasior and Waldemar A. Turski
Current medicinal chemistry, v 24(32), pp 3547-3558
01 Jan 2017
PMID: 28486923

Abstract

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Chemistry, Medicinal Life Sciences & Biomedicine Pharmacology & Pharmacy Science & Technology
Background: There is growing evidence of the involvement of the kynurenine metabolic pathway and the enhancement of kynurenic acid production in the neuroprotective effects of the ketogenic diet. Objective: Here, we review evidence implicating kynurenic acid in the efficacy of ketogenic diet in eye diseases associated with neurodegeneration. Findings: Ketogenic diet and ketone bodies that are elevated during exposure to the ketogenic diet each have a neuroprotective effect on retinal ganglion cells in a rat model of N-methyl-D-aspartate induced neuronal damage. Chronic exposure to ketogenic diet also increases kynurenic acid concentrations in discrete rat brain structures. A non-selective glutamate receptor agonist, glutamate, also decreases the production of kynurenic acid in bovine retinal slices; this effect is attenuated by acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate, two of three ketone bodies overproduced during ketogenic diet. Perspective: Whether ketogenic diet induced enhancement of kynurenic acid production would translate into a clinically significant improvement in certain eye diseases like glaucoma and retinal neurodegenerations awaits further experimental and clinical verification.

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15 citations in Scopus

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chemistry, Medicinal
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
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