Ketogenic diet has a positive association with mental and emotional well-being in the general population
In this study by Garner et al. (2024), the authors explored the effects of a ketogenic diet on mental health aspects in individuals from the general population, which have been relatively understudied compared to its effects in clinical contexts. While the ketogenic diet is commonly used for weight loss, and its physical effects have been researched in healthy individuals, its holistic impact, including psychological effects, remains less understood. To better understand how a ketogenic diet relates to several mental health markers as tranquility, contentment, alertness, cognitive and emotional stress, sadness, anxiety, and loneliness in a non-clinical population, the authors conducted a cross-sectional research using numerous cohorts. Two separate online surveys were conducted. The first cohort (n = 147) utilized the Perceived Stress and the Bond-Lader visual analog scales. In contrast, the second cohort (n = 276) employed the updated UCLA Loneliness Scale alongside the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Following a keto diet was associated with greater levels of mental and emotional well-being on several measures compared to a general population that followed a non-specific diet. This study suggests that a ketogenic diet may offer psychological benefits for individuals in the general population, shedding light on its broader impacts beyond weight loss and physical health. [NPID: Ketogenic diet, depression, loneliness, mood, anxiety, stress]
Year: 2024
