Energy balance
Short-term very-low-calorie ketogenic diets (<800 kcal/day) significantly reduce body mass index, android and gynoid fat mass, and insulin resistance without impairing nutritional state or causing negative changes in bone mineral content, hepatic, renal, or lipid profiles.
For obese individuals, a 3-week very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (under 800 kcal/day) is an effective and safe method for rapid fat loss and improving insulin sensitivity, provided it is done under medical supervision. It does not appear to harm bone, liver, or kidney health in the short term, contrary to common fears about high-protein/ketogenic diets.
21-days VLCKDs not impair nutritional state; not cause negative changes in global measurements of nutritional state including sarcopenia, bone mineral content, hepatic, renal and lipid profile.
Why this rating
Double-blind randomized crossover trial with placebo, though sample size is small (n=20 completed).
Source
Efficacy and safety of very-low-calorie ketogenic diet: a double blind randomized crossover study.
Carmen Colica et al. · PubMed · 2017
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