Ketogenic diet may improve outcomes in patients with psychiatric illness: Study

A recent pilot study published in the Psychiatry Research journal found the ketogenic diet which is traditionally used in the treatment of obesity, type 2 diabetes and epilepsy to be effective in psychiatric care. This study by Shebani Sethi and team unveiled promising results for individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder with pre-existing metabolic abnormalities. This 4-month single-arm trial included a total of 23 participants which suggests the strong potential of ketogenic diet as a supplementary treatment for serious mental illnesses.

The findings of this study were significant where all participants showed marked improvements in metabolic health by effectively eliminating the criteria for metabolic syndrome by the end of the study. For the individuals who strictly adhered to the ketogenic diet, the results showed an average weight loss of 12%, a reduction in BMI of 12%, a 13% decrease in waist circumference and a substantial 36% reduction in the visceral adipose tissue. These improvements in physical health were paralleled by marked enhancements in the metabolic biomarkers which included a 27% decrease in the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and a 25% reduction in triglyceride levels.

The study illuminated the potential psychiatric advantages of the ketogenic diet beyond the metabolic benefits. The participants diagnosed with schizophrenia experienced a significant 32% decrease in their Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores by indicating a reduction in the severity of their symptoms. The overall Clinical Global Impression (CGI) severity score improved by an average of 31%, with a significant 79% of participants showing at least a 1-point improvement in their CGI scores that denotes a reduction in symptom severity.

The cohort reported a 17% increase in life satisfaction and a 19% improvement in sleep quality which elucidates the possible far-reaching effects on overall well-being of the diet. This pilot trial stands as a strong witness to the potential benefits of the ketogenic diet as an adjunct treatment for the individuals with serious mental illnesses. The improvements in both metabolic health and psychiatric symptoms underline the dual impact of this diet in patients who seek alternative or supplementary treatment options. Overall, these findings pave the way for further research into the role of ketogenic diet in psychiatric care that can potentially revolutionize treatment approaches for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and much more.

Source:

Sethi, S., Wakeham, D., Ketter, T., Hooshmand, F., Bjornstad, J., Richards, B., Westman, E., Krauss, R. M., & Saslow, L. (2024). Ketogenic Diet Intervention on Metabolic and Psychiatric Health in Bipolar and Schizophrenia: A Pilot Trial. In Psychiatry Research (Vol. 335, p. 115866). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115866