A study published in Cell Metabolism suggests a ketogenic diet may improve liver and metabolic health more effectively than Mediterranean or low-fat, plant-forward diets.
Key facts
- •The study included 42 participants who had obesity, prediabetes, and fatty liver disease.
- •Keto diet participants saw liver fat decrease by an average of 67%.
- •About 50% of the keto group no longer met prediabetes criteria by the end of the study.
- •The ketogenic diet provided 73% of calories from fat, compared to 35% for the Mediterranean diet.
- •Researchers monitored metabolic activity over 24 hours by testing blood throughout the period.
A clinical trial involving 42 participants with obesity, prediabetes, and fatty liver disease compared the effects of ketogenic, Mediterranean, and low-fat, plant-forward diets. While all three diets resulted in weight loss and reduced body fat, the ketogenic diet group showed superior improvements in liver function and metabolic markers. The study, published on August 27 in Cell Metabolism, found that participants on the keto diet experienced significant reductions in liver fat and blood insulin levels.
By the numbers
Study Methodology and Results
Researchers provided all food to participants and held weekly dietitian meetings to ensure adherence. The ketogenic diet consisted of 4% carbohydrates and 73% fat, while the Mediterranean diet provided 50% carbohydrates and 35% fat, and the plant-forward diet provided 70% carbohydrates and 15% fat. By the end of the four-to-five-month study, liver fat decreased by an average of 67% in the keto group, compared to 45% in the other groups. Approximately 50% of keto diet participants no longer met the criteria for prediabetes by the study's conclusion. In comparison, 29% of the Mediterranean group and 7% of the plant-forward group saw similar results. Researchers noted that the keto group experienced the largest increase in glucagon, a hormone that promotes fat loss in the liver.
Expert Perspective and Limitations
Dr. Max Petersen, the study's first author, noted that keto participants did not experience increases in blood fat or cholesterol despite high fat intake. However, Dr. Yesika Garcia, an endocrinologist not involved in the study, emphasized that the findings are based on a small sample size and may not be easily generalized. She highlighted that muscle health improvements were identical across all three diets, suggesting that weight loss itself remains a primary driver of metabolic health. Dr. Garcia also cautioned that the keto diet can be difficult to sustain long-term. She noted that while the Mediterranean diet has a more established track record for long-term disease prevention, the keto diet may offer a metabolic boost for the right individual under medical supervision.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Healthline.
