The Controversy Surrounding the Ketogenic Diet and Mental Health
Not long after revising federal dietary guidelines to emphasize the importance of “real food,” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has shared a new and contentious claim. During a promotional tour for dietary recommendations, Kennedy recently asserted that a ketogenic diet could cure schizophrenia—an assertion swiftly challenged by experts.
The ketogenic diet focuses on high-fat meals while minimizing carbohydrates. Its popularity has surged in recent years, becoming the most Googled diet in the U.S. by 2020. Initially, this diet was originally conceived in the early 20th century to treat epilepsy patients. Recent studies have confirmed its effectiveness in controlling seizures for some types of epilepsy.
However, research on its effects on schizophrenia symptoms is less robust. Currently, small studies have indicated that ketogenic diets may provide some benefit for individuals with schizophrenia, but evidence remains limited.
Mark Olfson, a psychiatrist at Columbia University, stated that “there is currently no credible evidence that ketogenic diets cure schizophrenia,” as he highlighted in an interview with The New York Times.
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Additionally, Kennedy suggested that the ketogenic diet might also cure bipolar disorder based on studies he has reviewed. However, similar to schizophrenia, research on keto’s relationship with bipolar disorder remains scant and has only been explored in a limited number of cases.
Preliminary research has indicated that a ketogenic diet could potentially alleviate symptoms of depression, suggesting it may offer “small antidepressant benefits” for those who do not respond to conventional medications, according to a recent JAMA Psychiatry paper. Nonetheless, this area of research is still nascent and far from conclusive.
Scientists are actively exploring new therapies for mental health conditions, particularly since antipsychotic medications often have significant drawbacks. Many individuals discontinue these treatments due to side effects such as weight gain, drowsiness, and diminished motivation.
There is a belief among researchers that the ketogenic diet may assist in treating mental health conditions in various ways. For example, it has the potential to reduce brain inflammation, which is linked to anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. It may also contribute to stabilizing neural networks, a crucial factor for maintaining mental well-being.
At present, several randomized controlled trials—the gold standard in medical research—are underway to determine whether ketogenic diets could serve as effective treatments for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions.
While RFK Jr. claims that the diet is a cure-all, researchers stress that it should currently be viewed as a supplementary treatment to existing strategies. Shebani Sethi, a psychiatrist and obesity specialist at Stanford University, mentioned that she considers the ketogenic diet as “one powerful therapeutic metabolic tool among many.”
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