Keto diet is not suitable for everyone: New study
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A new study has revealed that a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet—popular among athletes, bodybuilders, and some celebrities—can raise cholesterol levels and reduce the number of beneficial gut bacteria, citing research published in Cell Reports Medicine.
Downsides of keto diet
Professor Dylan Thompson from the University of Bath explained that while the ketogenic diet is effective for fat loss, it is accompanied by various metabolic and microbiotic effects that may not be suitable for everyone.
The researchers conducted a 12-week study involving 53 healthy adults who followed either a moderate-sugar diet, a low-sugar diet (less than 5% of calories from sugar), or a keto diet (less than 8% of calories from carbohydrates).
It was found that the keto diet increased levels of cholesterol and apolipoprotein B, which can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, and reduced the amount of bifidobacteria, carbohydrate-loving bacteria that aid in digesting fiber, absorbing nutrients, and boosting the immune system.
Dr. Russell Davies, the lead researcher, explained that the ketogenic diet reduced fiber intake to around 15 grams per day.
This reduction in bifidobacteria could lead to significant long-term health consequences, such as an increased risk of digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome, a higher likelihood of intestinal infections, and weakened immune function.
Instead, the researchers recommend following a low-sugar diet, asserting that it promotes fat loss without noticeable negative effects on health.
Those on the keto diet lost an average of 6.4 pounds over 12 weeks, while those on the low-sugar diet lost an average of 4.6 pounds.
However, the low-sugar diet significantly lowered cholesterol levels without affecting gut bacteria.
Keto diet and its implications
This isn’t the first study to explore the impact of the keto diet on the gut. A 2020 study by the University of California, San Francisco, found that bifidobacteria levels in people decreased during a short-term keto diet.
Scientists have warned that this reduction could be harmful to colon health and increase the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and depression.
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