Grant: CIHR Fellowship

The implementation of a low carbohydrate, high fat-ketogenic diet (KD) is increasingly being recognized as a potential tool to combat obesity and related metabolic diseases. Studies have shown that adherence to a KD improves metabolic health. Specifically, a KD reduces food intake, increases energy expenditure and weight loss. While effective, KDs are restrictive and challenging to adhere to, making it important to find alternative therapies. Understanding how a KD improves metabolic health may help uncover new and more attainable therapeutic interventions for the prevention and treatment of obesity. Recently published research has demonstrated that a KD increases the signaling factor, growth differentiating factor 15 (GDF15). This molecule signals to the brain to regulate energy balance and food intake. Further, GDF15 has been shown to increase fat breakdown and ketone production. Considering these findings, we suspect that GDF15 may be a key player in the beneficial effects of a KD. If we can determine if GDF15 has a central role in improving metabolic health, we can use this knowledge to design alternative therapeutic interventions by targeting GDF15 signalling, which may provide a more feasible approach to combat obesity and other metabolic diseases.