UniSA researcher Dr. Rodney Sullivan talks about his study showing how evolution has adapted rodents to consume different types of nutrition than their normally healthy bulk counterparts.
Mice were fed either a low- or high-protein diet a ketogenic or a high-fat diet. The diet was varied daily by a litters of one hide two hide or four. By the end of the six week period the mice with high protein intake were much heavier with body weight equal to either the light or heavy weights. Surprisingly the animals with ketogenic diets were much lighter with body weight equal to either the light or high-fat diet-heavy mice but their weight was nearly twice as high as that of the light and ketogenic mice. Moreover rats with high-fat diets had almost twice the fat content of average mice. These facts suggest that diet switching might have 60 more metabolic value than dieting with the beneficial nutrient profiles of mice.
Dr. Dennis Collins director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Diabetes Center asks Dr. Sullivan about research into who should try the ketogenic diet and who should stick to a regular regimen. I dont think anybody should try to put on the greatest diet and have the most results on a ketogenic diet. Its just not worth it. I hope people only try this once he says.
Dr. Sullivan says switch to the ketogenic diet even if the ketogenic diet has some pros habits and values. The dietary shift is a huge potential benefit. It would significantly change what we know about the metabolic syndrome he says.
He continues explaining that the ketogenic diet provides the most complete protein fiber and macronutrient distribution to the rodents over the six week period. I think its the most complete protein fiber and macronutrient distribution and I think for rats it provides the most complete protein fiber and macronutrient distribution on a nutrient-complete ketogenic diet.
He says its a single feeding approach and provides the least amount of protein and fat per pound. A single feeding is more efficient than a feeding series. Also if I switch to the ketogenic diet theres no need to switch to the high-fat diet which means Im giving my rats the choice to eat whatever fits best he says. Its a single simple diet and all the rats in the world fit in it.
Dr. Sullivan concludes that the lack of choice or mimicking the choice method is the main reason ketogenic diets are not suitable for humans and he hopes others including the Food and Drug Administration may now implement the finding.
