Ketogenic Diet Could Improve Mental Health in Healthy Individuals, finds study

A new study published in the Nutrition journal suggests that a ketogenic diet, known for its popularity in weight loss circles, could offer significant mental health benefits for the general population. While the diet has already been recognized for its positive impact on the individuals with neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, its effects on the mental well-being of healthy individuals had not been extensively explored so far.

This cross-sectional study with multiple cohorts by Sarah Garner and team focused to fill this gap by investigating the association between a ketogenic diet and various aspects of mental health in a non-clinical sample. This research focused on metrics like calmness, contentedness, alertness, cognitive and emotional stress, depression, anxiety and loneliness.

The study utilized two online surveys to collect data where the first cohort comprised a total of 147 participants and employed the Bond-Lader visual analog scales and the Perceived Stress Scale to gauge their mental health. The second cohort included 276 participants and used the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and the revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. The results were compared between individuals adhering to a ketogenic diet and the individuals following a non-specific diet.

The findings from the study indicated that individuals on a ketogenic diet reported higher levels of mental and emotional well-being when compared to their non-ketogenic counterparts. Also, they experienced greater calmness, contentedness and alertness, along with lower levels of cognitive and emotional stress, depression, anxiety and loneliness.

The study highlighted the significance of these findings which indicates the benefits of a ketogenic diet that extended beyond physical health, impacting psychological well-being positively. This could be a potential trend for many looking to improve their mental health through dietary changes.

The results of this study add to the growing body of evidence that support the holistic benefits of ketogenic diets. Traditionally, the focus has been on the ability of this diet to promote weight loss and improve physical health metrics such as blood sugar levels and cholesterol. However, these new findings suggest that the impact of diet on mental health could be equally substantial.

Despite these promising results, the  study emphasized the need for further research to fully understand the long-term psychological effects of a ketogenic diet on the general population. While our study provides valuable insights, more longitudinal studies are required to establish causation and understand the underlying mechanisms at play. Overall, this research illuminates the importance of looking at dietary interventions from a physiological perspective and also in terms of mental health by paving the way for more comprehensive health and wellness strategies.

Reference:

Garner, S., Davies, E., Barkus, E., & Kraeuter, A.-K. (2024). Ketogenic diet has a positive association with mental and emotional well-being in the general population. In Nutrition (Vol. 124, p. 112420). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2024.112420