1985 Volume 25 Issue 6 Pages 513-522
The excellent result of the fasting therapy for psychosomatic disease was reported already in previous papers. However, the therapeutic mechanism is not yet clarified although eager research works are going on in our department. As one of the above studies, relationship of ketone bodies turnover and EEG power spectra was examined in 40 cases during fasting therapy.Total concentration of serum ketone bodies increased significantly from the 1st day to the 10th day of fasting period. On the other hand, urinary ketone bodies increased from the 1st day to the 8th day of fasting period. Both diminished during the refeeding period. Alpha energy percentage in EEG power spectra decreased on the 5th day of the fasting period, but turned to upward after the 6th day. Inversive correlation was obtained between the mean values of alpha energy percentage and serum beta-hydroxybutyrate on the 5th day of the fasting period. But on the 10th day, contrastingly, positive correlation was found on above two factors.From the results of this study, it is reasonable to presume that changes in alpha energy in EEG power spectra is much influenced by serum ketone bodies, it would be suggestable to clarify the effective mechanism of the fasting therapy.
