Keto Diet Shows Promise โคfor Depression, But Evidence Remains Limited, New Review finds
TORONTO – A new systematic review and meta-analysis suggests ketogenic โdiets (KDs) may offer modest improvements in depressive symptoms, particularly when ketone โขlevels are biochemically verified,โฃ butโข researchers caution that โฃmore robustโข studies are needed before clinical recommendations can be made. The โfindings,โ published in JAMA Psychiatry, add to a growing body ofโฃ research โexploring the potential of “metabolic psychiatry” – โthe connection between diet and mental health.
While not a cure-all, the review highlights emergingโฃ evidence suggesting KDs could be a beneficial adjunctโ therapy for certain mental health conditions. Researchers observed decreases in psychoticโ symptomsโค and improved mood regulation in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar spectrum disorder, with one PTSD study also indicating positive outcomes. However,โ evidence regarding anxiety relief remains preliminary and inconclusive.
The โreview analyzed existing studies and found that โขkds,characterized by high-fat and low-carbohydrate intake,were associated with modest โคimprovements in depressive symptoms,especially when participants demonstrated โขbiochemical ketosisโ – a state where the body primarily burns fat for fuel. “In this systematic review and meta-analysis, kds were associated with modest improvements in depressive symptoms, particularly with โขbiochemical ketosis verification, while anxietyโค evidence was inconclusive,” the authorsโข wrote.
The diet, โคoriginally used to treat pediatric epilepsy as early as 1921, has seen a โคresurgence in popularity for โฃmanaging type 2 diabetes and obesity. interest in its potential mental health benefits stems from the brain’s high โฃenergy demands and sensitivity โto metabolic changes.
Researchersโค emphasize the โneedโฃ for larger, well-designed trials with standardized protocols, structured support, and pre-specified outcomes to confirm the efficacy โand long-term durability of KDs โขfor mental health. They acknowledge that, as with most mental health treatments, a one-size-fits-all solution is unlikely.
The study was conducted by a team at Stโ Michael’s Hospital in Torontoโ and reported via MedicalXpress.