The Effect of a Ketogenic Diet on Human Health and Diseases: A Literature Review
Introduction and Aim. The ketogenic diet (KD), rich in fats and low in carbohydrates, induces a state of ketosis and metabolic changes. Used for over a century in epilepsy treatment, it is also gaining popularity in the therapy of other conditions, including metabolic, cardiovascular, oncological,...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Quality in Sport |
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| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/61246 |
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| author | Kinga Bielas Ewa Chodkowska Kinga Dominiczak Katarzyna Szafrańska Aleksandra Mucha Aleksander Szeps Bartosz Zabrzeński Jessika Schendzielorz |
| author_facet | Kinga Bielas Ewa Chodkowska Kinga Dominiczak Katarzyna Szafrańska Aleksandra Mucha Aleksander Szeps Bartosz Zabrzeński Jessika Schendzielorz |
| author_sort | Kinga Bielas |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Introduction and Aim. The ketogenic diet (KD), rich in fats and low in carbohydrates, induces a state of ketosis and metabolic changes. Used for over a century in epilepsy treatment, it is also gaining popularity in the therapy of other conditions, including metabolic, cardiovascular, oncological, and neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this work is to review the literature concerning its effects, applications, and potential adverse effects.
Methods. A review of PubMed and Google Scholar databases from the last five years was conducted, focusing on clinical studies, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews, using keywords: "ketogenic diet", "ketogenic diet and health”, "ketogenic diet mechanisms" and “ketogenic diet adverse effects”.
State of Knowledge. The KD promotes weight loss and improves glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes, and in type 1 diabetes, it may reduce insulin requirements; however, caution is necessary due to risks of hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis. The effects on lipid profiles are inconclusive. The diet can support cancer treatment by limiting glucose and insulin availability and exhibits neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases such as drug-resistant epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. However, it may also be associated with side effects such as constipation, hypoglycemia, kidney stones, and lipid disturbances.
Summary. The KD has therapeutic potential but requires monitoring, especially with long-term use, due to possible adverse effects. Further research is needed to assess its long-term efficacy and safety, particularly in the treatment of neurodegenerative and oncological diseases, to fully evaluate its therapeutic potential.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e1a36a9381bd40a28b592eb06ae31122 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2450-3118 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Quality in Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-e1a36a9381bd40a28b592eb06ae311222025-08-20T03:28:33ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-07-014310.12775/QS.2025.43.61246The Effect of a Ketogenic Diet on Human Health and Diseases: A Literature ReviewKinga Bielas0https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7151-9420Ewa Chodkowska 1https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1032-9248Kinga Dominiczak2https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9507-9813Katarzyna Szafrańska3https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3403-034XAleksandra Mucha4https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8841-0958Aleksander Szepshttps://orcid.org/0009-0003-2166-0112Bartosz Zabrzeński5https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3351-8423Jessika Schendzielorz6https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7649-1299Medical University of Silesia, Ul. Poniatowskiego 15, 40-055 Katowice, PolandŚląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach : Katowice, Silesia, PL4th Military Clinical Hospital in Wroclaw, Weigla 5, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland4th Military Clinical Hospital in Wroclaw, Weigla 5, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach : Katowice, Silesia, PLSP ZOZ MSWiA w Katowicach im. Sierżanta Grzegorza Załogi: Katowice, Poland, PLWojewódzki Szpital Specjalistyczny nr 5 im. św. Barbary w Sosnowcu: Sosnowiec, Silesia, PL Introduction and Aim. The ketogenic diet (KD), rich in fats and low in carbohydrates, induces a state of ketosis and metabolic changes. Used for over a century in epilepsy treatment, it is also gaining popularity in the therapy of other conditions, including metabolic, cardiovascular, oncological, and neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this work is to review the literature concerning its effects, applications, and potential adverse effects. Methods. A review of PubMed and Google Scholar databases from the last five years was conducted, focusing on clinical studies, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews, using keywords: "ketogenic diet", "ketogenic diet and health”, "ketogenic diet mechanisms" and “ketogenic diet adverse effects”. State of Knowledge. The KD promotes weight loss and improves glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes, and in type 1 diabetes, it may reduce insulin requirements; however, caution is necessary due to risks of hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis. The effects on lipid profiles are inconclusive. The diet can support cancer treatment by limiting glucose and insulin availability and exhibits neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases such as drug-resistant epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. However, it may also be associated with side effects such as constipation, hypoglycemia, kidney stones, and lipid disturbances. Summary. The KD has therapeutic potential but requires monitoring, especially with long-term use, due to possible adverse effects. Further research is needed to assess its long-term efficacy and safety, particularly in the treatment of neurodegenerative and oncological diseases, to fully evaluate its therapeutic potential. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/61246ketogenic dietketogenic diet and healthketogenic diet mechanismsketogenic diet adverse effects |
| spellingShingle | Kinga Bielas Ewa Chodkowska Kinga Dominiczak Katarzyna Szafrańska Aleksandra Mucha Aleksander Szeps Bartosz Zabrzeński Jessika Schendzielorz The Effect of a Ketogenic Diet on Human Health and Diseases: A Literature Review Quality in Sport ketogenic diet ketogenic diet and health ketogenic diet mechanisms ketogenic diet adverse effects |
| title | The Effect of a Ketogenic Diet on Human Health and Diseases: A Literature Review |
| title_full | The Effect of a Ketogenic Diet on Human Health and Diseases: A Literature Review |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of a Ketogenic Diet on Human Health and Diseases: A Literature Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of a Ketogenic Diet on Human Health and Diseases: A Literature Review |
| title_short | The Effect of a Ketogenic Diet on Human Health and Diseases: A Literature Review |
| title_sort | effect of a ketogenic diet on human health and diseases a literature review |
| topic | ketogenic diet ketogenic diet and health ketogenic diet mechanisms ketogenic diet adverse effects |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/61246 |
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