ABSTRACT
Background: Chronic low grade inflammation is anessential pathological feature of various Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs). Carbohydrate rich food animportant modifiable risk factor contributing to NCDscan be restricted by Ketogenic Diet (KD) or IntermittentFasting (IF). So the present study was taken up toevaluate the role of the above interventions ininflammation induced by Complete Freund's Adjuvant(CFA) in male Wistar rats. Aim and Objectives: Toevaluate the role of KD and IF in a model ofinflammation induced by CFA in rats. Material andMethods: Animals were divided into 4 equal groups of10 rats each. Groups were based on diet given. Group I -Control fed with standard diet; Group II - KD; Group III- IF and Group IV- Disease free group on standard diet.CFA injection into the hind paw 4 weeks after startingthe diet was made in all groups except in group IV afterwhich serum cytokines and oxidative stress markerswere measured on day 21. Results: KD and IF groupsshowed significantly lower inflammation in terms ofpaw edema volume and serum cytokines namely TNFα and IL-1β as compared to the control group. The KDand IF groups also showed lower oxidative stress interms of lower serum Thiobarbituric Acid ReactiveSpecies (TBARS) and less depletion of antioxidantenzymes namely superoxide dismutase and catalase ascompared to control group. Conclusion: The presentstudy proves that it is possible to lower inflammationand hence prevent NCDs by IF and KD. Since theimpact of both interventions on inflammation is similar,IF may be preferable to KD because, carbohydrate ispresent in a sizeable amount in most foodstuffs that weconsume and daily restriction of carbohydrate in theform of KD may not be a feasible option. Hence, IFalone may be a better option than daily carbohydraterestriction in the form of KD.