Project Description

The Ketogenic diet provides a primarily fat-based diet (90% fat, 1% carbohydrates) to those who consume it. This diet is intended to induce a state of ketosis (noted in humans and mice as having ketone body serum concentrations greater than 0.5mM). Ketone bodies have shown to be potentially more useful as a fuel source than carbohydrates when it comes to exercise performance. This project seeks to analyze differences in how individual C57BL/6-NCrl mice react based on age and sex differences. There will be 4 cohorts examined relating to these two variables: young female, young male, old female, and old male. Due to a lack of research done on female subjects it is imperative to observe anthropometric differences that arise when they are placed on the KD along with male KD mice. The previous research done in this area has highlighted female mice gaining significantly more body weight and adipose tissue compared to male mice when placed on the ketogenic diet. Through monitoring mice weight weekly, ketone levels bi-weekly, glucose levels bi-weekly, and measuring various metabolic factors in serum and bodily tissues we will collect data on the new cohorts for analytical examination. Exercise performed on a Rotarod bi-weekly will measure the fitness and endurance of mice. Previous review material has been completed on the ketogenic diet and exercise performance. Along with these in house findings literature generally agrees that the ketogenic diet was not an effective strategy to improve aerobic or anaerobic performance in human subjects. Through this study we will provide more data looking at this exercise component of the ketogenic diet.

Department

Biology

Faculty Advisor

Stephen Kolwicz