Ketogenic Diet's Long-Term Risks: Study Warns of Metabolic Changes
A keto diet, popular for short-term weight loss and managing epilepsy, is under scrutiny for its long-term effects on metabolic health. A recent mouse study and expert recommendations shed light on potential risks.
The keto diet, with about 90% of calories from fat, differs significantly from the German Society for Nutrition's advice of at least half from carbohydrates. A study on mice found that long-term use led to weight gain, glucose intolerance, disrupted insulin secretion, elevated cholesterol levels, and fatty liver disease.
Patients with epilepsy on a long-term keto diet often face cardiovascular diseases, high blood lipid levels, and pancreatitis. While the diet can reduce seizures, its long-term metabolic affects are not yet fully understood. Short-term benefits, such as rapid weight loss, may not persist. After 12 months, a keto diet's effectiveness is comparable to other diets, with potential yo-yo effects and unclear cardiovascular risks.
Researchers warn that long-term use of a keto diet may lead to multiple negative changes in metabolic parameters. Despite its potential benefits for managing epilepsy and short-term weight loss, more robust long-term studies are needed to understand and mitigate these risks.
