A study tried to find out if a ketogenic diet could reverse the pathological processes that lead to metabolic syndrome.

Researchers looked to see if fasting triglycerides, BMI (body mass index), BFM (body fat mass), and weight could be lowered and to see if A1c levels could be lowered or normalized. They looked for increases in RMR (resting metabolic rate) and ketones.

They studied a group of 30 individuals who had been diagnosed by their primary care provider as having metabolic syndrome and randomly prescribed them one of three protocols. One group sustained a ketogenic diet with no exercise. The second group ate a standard American diet with no exercise and the third group was asked to eat a standard American diet but include 3-5 days of 30 minutes of exercise.

What is a Ketogenic Diet?

In the study paper, they explained that “Ketogenic diets are characterized by a reduction in carbohydrates (usually less than 50g/day) with a relative increase in the physiological proportion of dietary fat with adequate protein to feed individual lean body mass.”

They add that ketosis is an energy state the body uses when glucose availability is low whereby ketones are made by the liver. The researchers state that recently, evidence has shown that a ketogenic diet can help conditions like “diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), neurological degeneration, cancer, as well as marked improvement of respiratory and cardiovascular disease risk factors”.

Why Are These Results Notable?

The results showed that over the course of 10 weeks those who ate a ketogenic diet had reductions in weight, body fat percentage, BMI, and A1C levels.

The researchers wrote in their study paper that “All variables for the ketogenic group out-performed those of the exercise and non-exercise groups, with five of the seven demonstrating statistical significance.”

The two groups eating a standard American diet did not see any significant changes in any of the five main biomarkers for metabolic syndrome.

These findings are of interest because modern countries like the U.S. are enduring a growing epidemic of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome increases the likelihood of obesity, pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and “numerous degenerative diseases”, write the researchers.

According to the study authors, based on their results–their statistical data, “the null hypothesis that a ketogenic diet has no effect on the five principle biomarkers of metabolic syndrome can be rejected.” These researchers say that “nutritional ketosis is a noteworthy modality of preventative and restorative care”.

They hope more studies can be done for the sake of developing a standard of care surrounding a ketogenic diet that results in a safe and effective practice.