Potential benefits of ketone therapy as a novel immunometabolic treatment for schizophrenia

Karin Huizer; Shubham Soni; Mya A. Schmidt; Nuray Çakici; Lieuwe de Haan; Jason R.B. Dyck; Nico J.M. van Beveren

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116379

Potential benefits of ketone therapy as a novel immunometabolic treatment for schizophrenia

Karin Huizer^*, Shubham Soni, Mya A. Schmidt, Nuray Çakici, Lieuwe de Haan, Jason R.B. Dyck, Nico J.M. van Beveren

^*Corresponding author for this work

Pathology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Therapeutic ketosis could target the potential bio-energetic pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Ideally, novel treatments also target the possible inflammatory aspects of schizophrenia. Adult mice (n = 30) were treated with ketone ester (KE) or vehicle for 3 days, next LPS- or PBS-injected. Brains were collected the next day. KE significantly attenuated the increased transcription of the pro-inflammatory cytokines Tnf-a, Il-6 and Il-1b, without affecting anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory cytokines (Il-4, Il-10, Il-11) in whole brain. KE potently dampened neuro-inflammation in this acute inflammation mouse model. Ketone therapy could simultaneously target two possible pathophysiological pathways in schizophrenia. We encourage more research into the immunometabolic potential of therapeutic ketosis in schizophrenia.

Original language	English
Article number	116379
Journal	Psychiatry Research
Volume	345
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116379
Publication status	Published - Mar 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier B.V.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116379

Cite this

@article{8145844b20ca4850a8e10022ef35e2a0,

title = "Potential benefits of ketone therapy as a novel immunometabolic treatment for schizophrenia",

abstract = "Therapeutic ketosis could target the potential bio-energetic pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Ideally, novel treatments also target the possible inflammatory aspects of schizophrenia. Adult mice (n = 30) were treated with ketone ester (KE) or vehicle for 3 days, next LPS- or PBS-injected. Brains were collected the next day. KE significantly attenuated the increased transcription of the pro-inflammatory cytokines Tnf-a, Il-6 and Il-1b, without affecting anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory cytokines (Il-4, Il-10, Il-11) in whole brain. KE potently dampened neuro-inflammation in this acute inflammation mouse model. Ketone therapy could simultaneously target two possible pathophysiological pathways in schizophrenia. We encourage more research into the immunometabolic potential of therapeutic ketosis in schizophrenia.",

author = "Karin Huizer and Shubham Soni and Schmidt, {Mya A.} and Nuray {\c C}akici and {de Haan}, Lieuwe and Dyck, {Jason R.B.} and {van Beveren}, {Nico J.M.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2025",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116379",

language = "English",

volume = "345",

journal = "Psychiatry Research",

issn = "0165-1781",

publisher = "Elsevier Ireland Ltd",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Potential benefits of ketone therapy as a novel immunometabolic treatment for schizophrenia

AU - Huizer, Karin

AU - Soni, Shubham

AU - Schmidt, Mya A.

AU - Çakici, Nuray

AU - de Haan, Lieuwe

AU - Dyck, Jason R.B.

AU - van Beveren, Nico J.M.

PY - 2025/3

Y1 - 2025/3

N2 - Therapeutic ketosis could target the potential bio-energetic pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Ideally, novel treatments also target the possible inflammatory aspects of schizophrenia. Adult mice (n = 30) were treated with ketone ester (KE) or vehicle for 3 days, next LPS- or PBS-injected. Brains were collected the next day. KE significantly attenuated the increased transcription of the pro-inflammatory cytokines Tnf-a, Il-6 and Il-1b, without affecting anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory cytokines (Il-4, Il-10, Il-11) in whole brain. KE potently dampened neuro-inflammation in this acute inflammation mouse model. Ketone therapy could simultaneously target two possible pathophysiological pathways in schizophrenia. We encourage more research into the immunometabolic potential of therapeutic ketosis in schizophrenia.

AB - Therapeutic ketosis could target the potential bio-energetic pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Ideally, novel treatments also target the possible inflammatory aspects of schizophrenia. Adult mice (n = 30) were treated with ketone ester (KE) or vehicle for 3 days, next LPS- or PBS-injected. Brains were collected the next day. KE significantly attenuated the increased transcription of the pro-inflammatory cytokines Tnf-a, Il-6 and Il-1b, without affecting anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory cytokines (Il-4, Il-10, Il-11) in whole brain. KE potently dampened neuro-inflammation in this acute inflammation mouse model. Ketone therapy could simultaneously target two possible pathophysiological pathways in schizophrenia. We encourage more research into the immunometabolic potential of therapeutic ketosis in schizophrenia.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85216468085&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116379

DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116379

M3 - Article

C2 - 39892306

AN - SCOPUS:85216468085

SN - 0165-1781

VL - 345

JO - Psychiatry Research

JF - Psychiatry Research

M1 - 116379

ER -

Potential benefits of ketone therapy as a novel immunometabolic treatment for schizophrenia

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this