# Ketogenic diet clinical trial results

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ketogenic-diet-clinical-trial-results
> Updated: 2026-09-01T07:11:00.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 3.

Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine conducted a randomized clinical trial, published in Cell Metabolism, to compare the effects of a ketogenic diet against Mediterranean and high-carbohydrate plant-forward diets. The study focused on 55 adults with obesity, prediabetes, and fatty liver disease.

While all groups lost approximately 10% of their body weight and saw a roughly 50% increase in skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity, the ketogenic diet demonstrated superior results in specific metabolic and liver health metrics. Participants on the ketogenic diet saw a 67% reduction in liver fat, compared to a 45% reduction in the other groups. Furthermore, the ketogenic diet was more effective at reversing prediabetes, with 50% of participants no longer meeting medical criteria, compared to 29% in the Mediterranean group and 7% in the high-carbohydrate group. The diet also contributed to a 20% reduction in 24-hour blood glucose and a 74% decrease in blood insulin levels.

Additional findings from the study indicate that liver insulin sensitivity improved two to three times more in the ketogenic group than in the comparison groups. Senior author Dr. Samuel Klein noted that for patients with high liver fat and prediabetes, reducing carbohydrate intake may provide therapeutic effects on glucose and lipid metabolism that extend beyond the benefits of weight loss alone. The findings suggest that dietary macronutrient composition can influence metabolic health independently of total weight loss, potentially helping to prevent the progression of metabolic diseases.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-01: Low-carb diets offer extra liver benefits, study finds

A Washington University study finds that low-carb diets provide additional benefits for liver health and blood sugar control in adults with obesity compared to other diets with similar weight loss results.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/low-carb-diets-offer-extra-liver-benefits-study-finds

### 2026-08-31: Ketogenic diet linked to significant liver fat reduction

A clinical trial found that a ketogenic diet may reduce liver fat by 67% and help reverse prediabetes more effectively than Mediterranean or low-fat diets, even when weight loss is equal.

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ketogenic-diet-linked-to-improved-liver-health-and-blood-sugar-control

### 2026-08-27: Ketogenic diet shows superior liver and metabolic benefits in clinical trial

A Washington University clinical trial found that a ketogenic diet provides greater benefits for liver health and blood sugar control than Mediterranean or low-fat diets, even with equal weight loss.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/washington-university-study-finds-ketogenic-diet-best-for-fatty-liver

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Cite as: Ketogenic diet clinical trial results. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ketogenic-diet-clinical-trial-results