David Arango-Morales, Departamento de Cirugía Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán; Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional; 3Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
Nidia Arango-Morales, Departamento de Cirugía Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico

Ketone bodies such as β-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone are produced mainly in the liver from fatty acids. In this way, they can be used by the body as an alternate source of energy. However, their properties go beyond an alternate source of energy. For many years, ketogenic therapies have been implemented for the treatment of certain neurological diseases, such as epilepsy. History shows us that its implementations were beneficial, minimizing the severity of seizures despite ignoring their mechanisms of action. At present, their applications and mechanisms are beginning to be understood.

Keywords: Ketone bodies. ?-hydroxybutyrate. Ketogenic diet. Inflammasome. Neuroprotection.