ATP-Gated Potassium Channels Contribute To Ketogenic Diet-Mediated Analgesia

Chronic pain is a substantial health burden, affecting 18-20% of American adults, and options for treating chronic pain remain minimally effective. Ketogenic diets are emerging as well-tolerated, effective therapeutic strategies in preclinical models of chronic pain, especially diabetic neuropathy. Here, we tested the hypothesis that a ketogenic diet provides analgesia through ketone oxidation and subsequent activation of ATP-gated potassium (KATP) channels. We demonstrated that intraplantar injection of noxious stimuli (methylglyoxal, cinnamaldehyde, or capsaicin) evoked nocifensive behaviors (licking, biting, lifting, etc.) in chow-fed but not ketogenic-diet-fed mice.
Source: The Journal of Pain - Category: Materials Science Authors: Source Type: research