The pilot trial tracked 16 college students with major depressive disorder over 10–12 weeks and found that participants experienced a roughly 70% decrease in depression scores.
They also experienced improvements in overall well-being, cognitive performance, and even modest weight loss.The 16 students who completed the pilot trial were receiving medication, counseling, or both for major depressive disorder (MDD) before beginning the keto diet.
- A new pilot study reports that young adults experienced a 70% reduction in depression symptoms after following a ketogenic diet.
- Participants also reported improvements in cognitive performance, overall well-being, and modest weight loss.
- Researchers suggest that nutritional ketosis could potentially serve as an adjunctive therapy alongside medication and counseling.
- However, a keto diet is not a replacement for professional mental health support, and further research is needed before keto can be recommended as a standalone treatment.
- A new study from Ohio State University has found that following a ketogenic diet may help reduce depression symptoms in young adults.
The findings suggest that attaining nutritional ketosis through diet is a feasible adjunctive therapy for depression and pave the way for a larger clinical trial. The findings were published on September 10 in Translational PsychiatryTrusted Source.
Previous research has suggested that medications and counseling reduce depressive symptoms by about 50% in a similar time period.
“A 70% drop in depression symptoms in just 10–12 weeks is impressive, especially alongside better well-being and memory, said Shelly Dar, a therapist specializing in anxiety and mood disorders. Dar wasn’t involved in the study.
“But I’d stress that this was a small pilot without a control group, so we can’t say keto caused the change,” she told Healthline.
Ketosis may improve brain function
The effects of the ketogenic diet on neurological conditions like epilepsy are well established. Therefore, the potential brain health benefits of ketosis are of increasing interest to researchers.
When the body is in a state of ketosis, the brain shifts from using glucose as its primary energy source to ketones, explained Mike Kocsis, founder of Balance My Hormones in the United Kingdom. Kocsis wasn’t involved in the new pilot study.
“Ketones act as signaling molecules that can impact brain chemistry, he told Healthline. “This metabolic trigger may improve mitochondrial efficiency, lower inflammation, and stabilize blood sugar levels, all of which are linked to mood regulation.”
Ketones may also support the cycle of GABATrusted Source (a calming neurotransmitter), which may help lower anxiety and regulate emotions.
“In the Ohio State study, the participants not only had lower depression scores but also showed better cognitive performance, which means overall brain function has improved,” Kocsis noted.
Getting help with depression
If you’re experiencing symptoms associated with depression, remember that you’re not alone. Reach out to your doctor or a mental health professional for support.
In some cases, counseling, therapy, medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), or a combination, may be needed.
If your doctor recommends the keto diet to complement your mental health treatment, Kocsis said to transition gradually. “Slowly start to reduce carbs over 1-2 weeks rather than cutting them overnight, as this will help minimize ‘keto-flu’ symptoms like fatigue and headaches,” he advised.
“It’s a good idea to focus on whole foods, plenty of non-starchy vegetables, healthy fats such as olive oil, nuts, and avocado, and quality protein sources to avoid nutrient gaps,” he added.
Dar noted that other, less restrictive dietary patterns, such as increasing your intake of whole foods and following a Mediterranean-style diet, have been shown to help support mood.
“What matters most is finding a sustainable routine that supports mental health without adding extra stress or pressure,” Dar said.
Diet aside, Dar said not to underestimate the power of healthy habits like good sleep, exercise, therapy, social support, and cutting back on alcohol or illicit substances.