A recent study from The Ohio State University suggests that shifting the body’s primary fuel from sugar to fat could support improvements in depression symptoms.
Researchers found that adopting a ketogenic diet was linked to notable reductions in depressive symptoms among college students, although they stress the findings are preliminary.
The study followed 24 college students diagnosed with major depressive disorder, 16 of whom completed the 10-week intervention. Participants limited carbohydrate intake to under 50 grams per day and worked closely with researchers to tailor the diet to their preferences. Lead researcher Jeff Volek, PhD, emphasised the early-stage nature of the research.
“There is more science yet to do, but because there is evidence of a benefit, expanding accessibility to a well-formulated ketogenic diet as an augmentation to treatment for depression is something to think about,” he said.
The diet is high in fat, moderate in protein, and very low in carbohydrates, which induces nutritional ketosis. Harvard Health experts note that “unlike other low-carb diets, which focus on protein, a keto plan centers on fat, which supplies as much as 90% of daily calories.” Ketones produced in this state can serve as an alternative fuel source for the brain.
The depression symptoms dropped around 70% on average. Therapist-rated scores improved 71%, self-reported scores 69%, and average weight loss was 11 pounds, without significant changes in cholesterol. Ryan Patel, DO, said: “That is an impressive finding, that across the board, in this real-world setting, everybody got better, and across the board, our participants did not need more treatment or emergency intervention.”
Researchers caution that the study was small, lacked a control group, and had short-term follow-up. While symptom improvements exceeded typical outcomes from standard 12-week antidepressant therapy, larger controlled trials are needed.