Science

T.B. VanItallie, MD; C. Nonas, RD; A. Di Rocco, MD; K. Boyar, NP; K. Hyams, RD; and S.B. Heymsfield, MD

Ketones may bypass the defect in complex I activity implicated in Parkinson disease (PD). Five of seven volunteers with PD were able to prepare a “hyperketogenic” diet at home and adhere to it for 28 days. Substituting unsaturated for saturated fats appeared to prevent cholesterol increases in four volunteers. Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale scores improved in all five during hyperketonemia, but a placebo effect was not ruled out.