Nutritional Ketosis and Mitohormesis: Potential Implications for Mitochondrial Function and Human Health

Figure 1

β-hydroxybutyrate and, in some cases, acetoacetate contribute to protection against oxidative stress by decreasing production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS), by increasing expression or protein content of antioxidant enzymes through histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition, and by directly scavenging the hydroxyl radical (^•OH). Upregulation of antioxidant enzymes through HDAC inhibition includes manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2), catalase, and metallothionein II and is likely mediated by the transcription factor forkhead box O 3a (FOXO3a).