SouthernWorldwide.com – A popular weight-loss diet, the ketogenic diet, has shown promising results in potentially helping individuals manage anorexia nervosa, according to new research from the UC San Diego School of Medicine.
The study, which was small in scale and published in the journal Nature, involved 22 women. These participants were between the ages of 18 and 45 and had a documented history of anorexia nervosa, with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 17.5.
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious psychiatric disorder characterized by severe food restriction and significantly low body weight. The condition often persists even after weight restoration, manifesting as body dissatisfaction, an intense fear of eating, and a persistent preoccupation with body shape and size, as detailed by the researchers.
KETO DIET HAS SURPRISING IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH, RESEARCHERS DISCOVER
For a period of 14 weeks, the study participants adhered to a ketogenic therapy plan. This diet was specifically designed to consist of 70% fat, 20% protein, and only 10% carbohydrates, as indicated in a press release detailing the findings.
The primary objective of this dietary approach was to maintain the participants’ weight while simultaneously inducing nutritional ketosis. This metabolic state occurs when the body, due to a significantly low carbohydrate intake, begins to produce and utilize ketones for energy, shifting its metabolism towards burning fat.
Throughout the 14-week intervention, the researchers closely monitored the participants. This monitoring included regular ketone testing, weekly weight assessments, the completion of symptom questionnaires, and ongoing nutritional and psychiatric support.
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Among the 18 participants who completed the study, notable improvements were observed in several aspects of their eating disorder symptoms. These improvements included reductions in restraint behaviors, lower depression scores, and decreased concern regarding eating, body shape, and weight.
Furthermore, the overall scores on the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) demonstrated improvement. A significant majority, 72% of the participants, achieved scores that fell within the recovered or normal range.
The study results indicated that the participants’ body weight did not undergo significant changes, and crucially, no individual’s BMI dropped below the 17.5 threshold.
For those participants who continued to follow the ketogenic therapy for three months following the initial intervention period, their EDE-Q scores showed a slight further improvement.
The authors of the study concluded that ketogenic dietary therapy is a well-tolerated intervention. They also highlighted its potential efficacy in alleviating symptoms associated with anorexia nervosa, particularly in adults who are either mildly underweight or have successfully undergone weight restoration.
While the study was considered “sufficiently powered” in its design, the authors acknowledged certain limitations. The relatively small sample size, composed predominantly of White females, restricts the generalizability of the findings to broader populations.
The researchers suggested that future research should aim to replicate these findings in more diverse demographic groups. They also recommended incorporating objective assessments of brain function, such as metabolic PET imaging, to gain a deeper understanding of brain glucose metabolism in this context.
Dr. Guido Frank, the lead author of the study and a professor of psychiatry at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, has dedicated over 25 years to studying and treating patients with anorexia. He initiated this research with the aim of expanding the available treatment options for this high-risk patient population.
In a statement, Dr. Frank emphasized the “urgent” need for novel therapeutic approaches for anorexia nervosa.
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“Our exploration of ketogenic therapy moves beyond conventional treatments and delves into the potential underlying physiology of the disorder,” he explained.
“There is a growing body of evidence that links anorexia nervosa to neurometabolic dysfunction. We are hopeful that by directly intervening metabolically, we can help regulate neural function and, consequently, address the psychological symptoms experienced by patients.”
