1st Annual Conference on Nutritional Ketosis and Metabolic Therapeutics January 28-30th 2016, University of South Florida

By Sue Wood RD

SueAn exciting new gathering in the world of ketogenic therapy; this conference brought together a range of speakers from the world of ketogenic research and the broadening field of clinical application. It was very ably hosted by a Dominic D’Agostino Ph.D. and his laboratory team who have research interests across seizure management, brain cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and use of exogenous ketones. With so much to condense into 2 days, it had sessions running concurrently. The choice was challenging; what do you catch, what do you miss?

Setting the scene with β€˜Dietary sense and nonsense in the war on saturated fat’, David Diamond Ph.D. presented the historical perspective underpinning Western dietary guidelines; how the emphasis on lowering fat and the resulting increase in carbohydrate intake is considered to have led us down a dangerous road towards escalating obesity and type 2 diabetes. David Ludwig M.D., Richard Feinman Ph.D. and Eric Westman M.D. went on to expand on the evidence for the wider use of low carbohydrate diets in the management of diabetes.

The potential of ketogenic metabolism to influence cancer and the need for increased investment exploring this broadly neglected sector, was addressed by science writer Travis Christopherson, researchers; Thomas Seyfried Ph.D, Brent Reynolds Ph.D., Adrienne Scheck Ph.D., Angela Poff Ph.D., Nate Ward Ph.D, and clinicians; Colin Champ M.D. and Eugene Fine M.D.Β  There was a surprisingly novel presentation by founders of the KetoPet Sanctuary; a charitably funded facility offering ketogenic therapy alongside hyperbaric oxygen and standard cancer therapy to dogs with inoperable cancer suggesting interesting results.Β  Could this model be translated into human therapy?

Neurological disorders were addressed by experts from the epilepsy world; Jong Rho M.D., Eric Kossoff M.D, Adam Hartman M.D. and Susan Masino Ph.D., with Alzheimer’s disease research presented by Stephen Cunnane Ph.D. and Mary Newport M.D, author of Alzheimer’s Disease; what if there was a cure?

Jeff Volek Ph.D. presented on the use of ketogenic diets in sports performance; reflecting the expanding breadth of interest in KD in healthy individuals, an interesting juxtaposition to the debilitating disease states we generally focus on.Β  It was notable that much of the sponsorship and trade stands came from the expanding sport and enhanced performance sector. This may bring a much needed injection of funding into the ketogenic research arena and perhaps brighten the image of ketogenic therapy out there to the uninitiated in the wider clinical world. However, we still have a very long and winding road to travel before we can expect to see current hypotheses to be evidenced sufficiently to translate into wider clinical applications of ketogenic therapy.

Last but not least, we had presentations on practical implementation from Beth Zupec Kania RD, Mirium Kalamian and from the UK, Mike Dancer, with his own compelling ketogenic journey. Prof D’Agostino highlighted the inspirational role that Mike has played in his pursuit of ketogenic research since their chance meeting in 2008 via their mutual interest in body building. Β Well done Mike, you continue to be an inspiration to us all.

Please go to http://metabolictherapeutics.com for further information and access to the presentations.