Khaberni - Researchers at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto reported that the ketogenic diet is associated with a slight reduction in symptoms of depression in adults, while evidence of a positive effect on anxiety remains uncertain.
Both severe depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia have been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, impaired glucose metabolism in the brain, and systemic inflammation in body organs.
The diet is a non-pharmacological option
According to "Medical Xpress", ketogenic diets, high in fats, moderate in proteins, and very low in carbohydrates, entered the field of clinical medicine a century ago as a non-pharmacological option for treating refractory epilepsy.
It was discovered that carbohydrate restriction, which characterizes the keto diet, continuously shifts the brain's primary energy source from glucose to ketone bodies, and this shift affects mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and inflammatory signals.
Keto and mental health
In this study, researchers conducted a systematic review to assess the associations between ketogenic diets and mental health outcomes in adults, focusing on symptoms of depression and anxiety.
In 50 studies from 15 countries, involving about 42,000 people aged between 18 and 70 years, across demographically unselected populations, the results indicated effects of the ketogenic diet on gut microbes and the neural network, as well as its interaction with the pharmacodynamics of mood stabilizers.
Symptoms of depression
Studies that used biochemical ketone monitoring showed a stronger association with improved depression symptoms.
The researchers did not find statistically significant effects from the ketogenic diet on anxiety symptoms, and potential effects remained preliminary, with signs pointing to moderate improvement in anxiety symptoms over time during ketogenic interventions.
