Ketogenic diet for mitochondrial disease: potential role in treating the Multiple Symmetric Lipomatosis phenotype associated with the common MT-TK genetic mutation.

Dear Editor,

We read with appreciation the succinct and informative systematic review by Zweers et al. [1] on the effect of the Ketogenic Diet and/or the Modified Atkins Diet on various mitochondrial disease associated phenotypes.

While this review covered studies pertaining to epilepsy, skeletal and heart muscle, tonus dysregulation, movement disorder, developmental delay/intellectual disability, food intake, weight gain/growth, and hair growth, we note that the multiple symmetric lipomatosis phenotype, frequently associated with the MT-TK genetic mutation, was not covered.

We would like to highlight that a version of the ketogenic diet was employed successfully, along with other simultaneous lifestyle interventions, in treating a disabling multiple symmetric lipomatosis phenotype. This successful intervention was reported in 2020 [2] and warrants further consideration by care providers whose patients are in a similar predicament, and similarly motivated.

Sincerely,

Andre Mattman, MD, FRCPC

Adult Metabolic Diseases Clinic

Vancouver, Canada.