Ketone bodies may be used as an alternative to glucose (ie. from dietary carbohydrates) for brain/muscle fuel. A diet based on this approach is known as a ketogenic diet, and as Dr Hilary Jones explains:
"....all the research that has been carried out over the last 10 years has thrown previous research on its head. we now know that a ketogenic diet can actually be very healthy, [ ] it can increase the level of good cholesterol, [ ] its safe for our kidneys, its safe for our livers, [ ] can help prevent diabetes, [ ] all in all its safe and effective and could actually improve our health"
since the 1920's, ketogenic diets have been used successfully by traditional medicine to treat epileps. it is recognised at least in that context by the conservative Mayo Clinic - ie. see "puff-piece" below:
some bodybuilders use a form of ketogenic diet as part of their regime: http://www.bodybuildingdungeon.com/forums/nutrition/2156-ckd-cyclical.html
