Ketogenic Diet Substantially Reduces Depression Symptoms in College Students, Pilot Study Finds
COLUMBUS, OH – A new pilot study from Ohio State University reveals a ketogenic diet shows notable promise as an adjunctive therapy for major depressive disorder in college students. Researchers found ample reductions in both self-reported adn clinician-rated depression scores, alongside improvements in wellness, cognitive function, and weight loss, among participants following the diet.The findings, published in Translational Psychiatry on April 28, 2025, suggest the diet could offer a novel approach to supporting mental health treatment.
the study excluded individuals with contraindications to a ketogenic diet, including a Body Mass Index under 20, eating disorders, pregnancy, or high alcohol consumption.Participants achieved ketosis - confirmed by blood ketone measurements – in 73% of cases, indicating good adherence.
Over a 10-12 week period, self-reported depression scores decreased by 69%, starting with a 37% reduction by week two. Clinician-rated assessments mirrored this betterment, decreasing by 59% at week six and 71% at the study’s conclusion.Participants also reported a two to nearly three-fold increase in perceived global wellness.
Beyond mental health benefits, the group lost an average of 11 pounds, with a 2.4% decrease in body fat – most exceeding the clinically significant 5% weight loss threshold. Cognitive performance, specifically episodic memory, processing speed, and executive function, also improved. Importantly, no significant changes in cholesterol or triglyceride levels were observed.
“The average effect size for medications and counseling after 12 weeks is about 50%, and we saw a substantially greater result,” said Dr. Patel, who met with students throughout the trial. “That is an impressive finding, that across the board, in this real-world setting, everybody got better, and across the board, our participants did not need more treatment or emergency intervention.”
Lead researcher dr. Volek, who has studied therapeutic applications of ketosis for over two decades, explained the potential mechanisms at play. “The idea is that the ketogenic diet is working through a variety of potentially different mechanisms – there’s a whole range of physiological metabolic adaptations to the diet that could overlap with some of the pathophysiology of depression.”
The research team collected biological data on inflammation and brain function-related proteins to further investigate these mechanisms, though Dr. Volek emphasized this study was a “proof-of-concept” for adjunctive therapy.
The study was supported by a grant from the Baszucki Group Brain Research Fund and involved contributions from scott Hayes, Whitney Whitted, Ann Lee, Alex Buga, Bradley Robinson, Christopher Crabtree, Justen Stoner, Madison Kackley, Teryn Sapper, and Ashwini Chebbi, all of Ohio State.
The full study, A pilot study examining a ketogenic diet as an adjunct therapy in college students with major depressive disorder, is available in Translational Psychiatry (doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03544-8).
