A new study has revealed that the ketogenic or keto diet may help reduce symptoms of depression in individuals who do not gain sufficient benefit from antidepressants.
According to scientists at the University of Oxford, participants who followed a keto diet for six weeks showed a slight reduction in symptoms of depression, while better results were observed compared to those who were encouraged to follow a more plant based diet.
The study included 88 individuals suffering from treatment resistant depression. Among those following the keto diet, who kept their daily carbohydrate intake below 30 grams, an average improvement of 10.5 points was observed on the 27 point depression scale, while the group following a plant based diet showed an improvement of 8.3 points.
The study’s lead researcher, Meng Gao, said that after six weeks the ketogenic diet showed antidepressant benefits compared to the control diet.
She said that this randomized clinical trial shows that keto diets may prove effective as an adjunct treatment for treatment resistant depression. Experts have emphasized that lifestyle changes play an important role in the treatment of depression.
The study provides initial evidence that the keto diet can be used alongside traditional depression treatments, however further research is required to confirm its long term effects.
