Ketogenic diets may uniquely impact menstrual cycles in pre-menopausal women, finds study

A distinguishing feature of the KD was the increase in fasting beta-hydroxybutyrate (a marker of ketosis) by 1.2 ± 0.3 mM, regardless of supplementation. This state of nutritional ketosis coincided with marked menstrual changes in the KD participants. About 30% of women in the KD+KS group and 43% in the KD+PL group reported increased menstrual frequency and intensity within two weeks.

Also, one-third of KD participants regained their menses after a prolonged absence (over a year) by the 4th week. In contrast, no menstrual changes were observed in the LFD cohort. The findings highlight the potential for ketogenic diets to influence female reproductive health beyond their role in weight loss and metabolic improvement.

While the exact mechanisms remain unclear, the study suggests a link between ketosis and hormonal regulation. Overall, the research illuminates the need for further studies to unravel the physiological pathways linking nutritional ketosis to menstrual health by emphasizing the broader impact of diet on well-being of women.

Reference:

Kackley, M. L., Buga, A., Brownlow, M. L., O’Connor, A., Sapper, T. N., Crabtree, C. D., Robinson, B. T., Stoner, J. T., Decker, D. D., Soma, L., & Volek, J. S. (2024). Self-reported menses physiology is positively modulated by a well-formulated, energy-controlled ketogenic diet vs. low fat diet in women of reproductive age with overweight/obesity. In L. Yanes Cardozo (Ed.), PLOS ONE (Vol. 19, Issue 8, p. e0293670). Public Library of Science (PLoS). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293670