Ketogenic therapy for schizophrenia: evidence, mechanisms, and clinical perspectives

Mechanistic review explaining proposed pathways by which ketogenic therapy may benefit schizophrenia: ketone bodies bypass impaired glucose metabolism to restore ATP production in the prefrontal cortex; enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis reduces oxidative stress; the diet increases GABAergic signaling, reduces glutamate release, and modulates dopaminergic tone via adenosine pathways; and anti-inflammatory effects lower elevated cytokines (IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta) implicated in symptoms.