Keto Diet Danger? Study Finds Serious Long-Term Health Risks of Keto Eating

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, very low-carbohydrate eating plan that forces the body into ketosis, a state where fat is burned for energy instead of glucose. Originally developed for epilepsy treatment, it has gained popularity for rapid weight loss and improved blood sugar control. While keto can reduce appetite and support metabolic health in the short term, it is restrictive and may cause nutrient deficiencies, digestive issues, and increased cholesterol levels. Long-term safety remains uncertain, with emerging evidence warning of potential liver and pancreatic stress, especially when followed for extended periods.

The study involved male and female mice fed a very high-fat, very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet for over nine months. Researchers monitored body weight, blood fat levels, liver function, glucose, and insulin regulation, as well as gene expression and cellular health in the pancreas. While keto-fed mice maintained lower body weights compared to high-fat Western diet-fed mice, male mice developed fatty liver disease—a serious metabolic condition—and showed impaired liver function. Female mice did not develop fatty liver, highlighting significant sex differences.

Importantly, although keto mice had low fasting blood sugar and insulin, their blood sugar spiked excessively after carbohydrate intake, revealing impaired glucose regulation and metabolic inflexibility. This abnormal response was linked to severe stress and dysfunction in pancreatic beta cells responsible for insulin secretion, traced to disruptions in protein processing within these cells’ ER-Golgi transport system. Encouragingly, some of these metabolic issues reversed when mice returned to a normal diet.

This work challenges the perception of ketogenic diets as inherently safe over long periods. It suggests that while keto can achieve weight control, it may carry hidden risks—especially for liver and pancreatic health—and that sex, genetics, and lifestyle factors likely influence individual outcomes. The authors emphasize caution and recommend consulting healthcare providers before embarking on long-term ketogenic diets.

REFERENCE: Molly R. Gallop et al. ,A long-term ketogenic diet causes hyperlipidemia, liver dysfunction, and glucose intolerance from impaired insulin secretion in mice.Sci. Adv.11,eadx2752(2025).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adx2752