Ketogenic diet clinical trial results

A clinical trial published in Cell Metabolism, involving researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, indicates that a ketogenic diet may be more effective at reducing liver fat and improving glycemic control than Mediterranean or low-fat plant-based diets.

The study followed 42 adults with obesity, prediabetes, and fatty liver disease. While all three dietary groups achieved a similar weight loss of approximately 10% over four to five months, the ketogenic group—consisting of roughly 73% fat and 4% carbohydrates—saw a 67% reduction in liver fat. This outperformed the 45% reduction observed in the Mediterranean and low-fat groups.

Metabolic improvements were also more pronounced in the ketogenic cohort. Approximately 50% of participants in this group no longer met the criteria for prediabetes, compared to 29% in the Mediterranean group and 7% in the low-fat group. Additionally, the ketogenic diet showed greater advantages in reducing HbA1c levels and improving liver insulin sensitivity.

Researchers noted that these findings suggest diet composition may influence metabolic health beyond the simple effects of weight loss alone. However, they cautioned that because of the small scale and short duration of the trial, the long-term sustainability and effects of the diet are not yet established.