The impact of ketogenic diet on some metabolic and non-metabolic diseases: Evidence from human and animal model experiments

Yaseen Galali; Salih M S Zebari; Ahmed Aj Jabbar; Holem Hashm Balaky; Bashdar Abuzed Sadee; Hamed Hassanzadeh

doi:10.1002/fsn3.3873

The impact of ketogenic diet on some metabolic and non-metabolic diseases: Evidence from human and animal model experiments

Food Sci Nutr. 2024 Jan 8;12(3):1444-1464. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.3873. eCollection 2024 Mar.

Authors

Yaseen Galali¹, Salih M S Zebari^{2

3}, Ahmed Aj Jabbar⁴, Holem Hashm Balaky^{5

6}, Bashdar Abuzed Sadee^{1

2}, Hamed Hassanzadeh⁷

Affiliations

¹ Food Technology Department College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University-Erbil Erbil Iraq.
² Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Cihan University-Erbil Erbil Iraq.
³ Animal Resource Department College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University-Erbil Erbil Iraq.
⁴ Department of Medical Laboratory Technology Erbil Technical Health and Medical College, Erbil Polytechnic University Erbil Iraq.
⁵ General Science Department, Faculty of Education Soran University Erbil Iraq.
⁶ Mergasor Technical Institute Erbil Polytechnic University Erbil Iraq.
⁷ Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Para-veterinary Ilam University Ilam Iran.

Abstract

The ketogenic diet (KD) is recognized as minimum carbohydrate and maximum fat intakes, which leads to ketosis stimulation, a state that is thought to metabolize fat more than carbohydrates for energy supply. KD has gained more interest in recent years and is for many purposes, including weight loss and managing serious diseases like type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, many believe that KD has safety issues and are uncertain about the health drawbacks. Thus, the outcomes of the effect of KD on metabolic and non-metabolic disease remain disputable. The current narrative review aims to evaluate the effect of KD on several diseases concerning the human health. To our best knowledge, the first report aims to investigate the efficacy of KD on multiple human health issues including type 2 diabetes and weight loss, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and hypertension, non-alcoholic fatty liver, mental problem, oral health, libido, and osteoporosis. The literature searches were performed in Databases, PubMed, Scopus, and web of Science looking for both animal and human model designs. The results heterogeneity seems to be explained by differences in diet composition and duration. Also, the available findings may show that proper control of carbohydrates, a significant reduction in glycemic control and glycated hemoglobin, and weight loss by KD can be an approach to improve diabetes and obesity, hypertension, non-alcoholic fatty liver, PCOS, libido, oral health, and mental problem if isocaloric is considered. However, for some other diseases like cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, more robust data are needed. Therefore, there is robust data to support the notion that KD can be effective for some metabolic and non-metabolic diseases but not for all of them. So they have to be followed cautiously and under the supervision of health professionals.

Keywords: cardiovascular disease; diabetes and weight loss; keto diet; metabolic and non‐metabolic diseases.

Publication types

Review