According to a new study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, the ketogenic (keto) diet may be effective for patients who do not respond to antidepressants.
Researchers from the University of Oxford determined that individuals on a keto diet for six weeks experienced a greater reduction in depression symptoms compared to those focused on a plant-based diet.
How does the keto diet affect the brain? The essence of the keto diet is that the body uses ketones derived from fats as an energy source instead of glucose. According to Stanford Medicine, the state of ketosis may stabilize neurons and reduce neuroinflammation, which directly impacts mental health.
Out of the 88 participants in the study, those who consumed fewer than 30 grams of carbohydrates per day showed a 10.5-point improvement on a 27-point depression scale.
Expert Opinions Despite the promising results, experts highlight several significant challenges, the most prominent being the difficulty of maintaining the diet. The keto regimen is so strict that only 9% of participants were able to continue it after the study concluded. This suggests that the method may be impractical for many patients in the long term.
Doctors also believe that similar antidepressant effects can be achieved through more accessible alternatives, such as healthy eating, weight management, and regular physical activity.
Furthermore, the study’s success was heavily influenced by the intensive social and professional support participants received from specialists. This reaffirms that in the fight against depression, human factors and social engagement are often as decisive as the diet itself.
Specialists note that while the keto diet can be considered a supportive tool for depression, it is not a complete replacement for traditional treatment.
