Research
Mixed
Ketogenic diets provide short-term improvements in seizure frequency, weight loss, and glycemic control, but these benefits are often temporary and outweighed by long-term risks including nutrient deficiencies, adverse lipid profiles, and increased chronic disease risk.
If you try a ketogenic diet, expect short-term improvements in weight and blood sugar, but do not expect it to be superior to other healthy diets in the long run. Be aware that you may experience nutrient deficiencies, increased LDL cholesterol, and other health risks. For most people, the long-term risks outweigh the short-term benefits.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
Given often-temporary improvements, unfavorable effects on dietary intake, and inadequate data demonstrating long-term safety, for most individuals, the risks of ketogenic diets may outweigh the benefits.
Why this rating
Based on a comprehensive review of multiple meta-analyses and clinical trials.
Source
Ketogenic Diets and Chronic Disease: Weighing the Benefits Against the Risks
Lee Crosby et al. · Frontiers in Nutrition · 2021
DOI 10.3389/fnut.2021.702802
narrative_reviewCited 215×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Ketogenic diets increase the risk of cardiovascular disease markers, specifically LDL-C elevation, which persists even with weight loss, and are associated with increased risks of kidney stones and chronic kidney disease.Good
- Ketogenic diets are associated with an increased risk of neural tube defects in offspring when followed by women prior to conception, regardless of folic acid supplementation.Moderate
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