New findings published in Translational Psychiatry highlight ketogenic therapy as a feasible treatment for depression in young adults.
| Diagnosis | Major Depressive Disorder |
| Principal Investigator | Jeff Volek, PhD, RD |
| Institution | The Ohio State University |
| Loation | Columbus, Ohio |
The study is the first in the history of psychiatric research to test a ketogenic diet as a treatment for major depressive disorder. These promising preliminary results in a young adult population demonstrate improvements in psychiatric and metabolic health.
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For young adults struggling with depression, this study highlights that ketogenic therapy is a viable option.
For young adults struggling with depression, this study highlights that ketogenic therapy is a viable option.
This pilot study investigated the feasibility and safety of ketogenic therapy as an adjunctive treatment for young adults (18-30 years old) with major depressive disorder (MDD) receiving standard care (counseling and/or medication).
Sixteen participants achieved and maintained ketosis for the majority of the tested days over 10-12 weeks. Within 2-6 weeks of the start of the trials, participants showed robust improvements of depressive symptoms (PHQ-9, HDRS) and well-being (WHO-5). This timing is consistent with the time to reach ketosis. These positive psychological effects were sustained throughout the trial period. Improvements were also observed in physical measures, including body mass and fat mass, and metabolic measures, including decreased leptin and increased BDNF. These results suggest improvements in energy use. Participants also showed improvements in some cognitive tests.
Overall, these results show promise for the potential of ketogenic therapy as a safe and feasible therapy for young adults with depression.
The study is the first to use neuroimaging to demonstrate that a ketogenic diet may improve brain metabolism in individuals with a bipolar disorder diagnosis. Increased ketone levels were correlated with participants’ improvements in mood, energy, impulsivity, and anxiety, with some describing the intervention as life-changing.
Dr. Shebani Sethi’s 4-month clinical trial at Stanford of ketogenic diet for serious mental illness showed promising preliminary results indicating remission of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in participants who adhered to the diet, as well as reversal of metabolic syndrome for those with the diagnosis.