Research

Micronutrients & recovery

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.

Women planning pregnancy should avoid ketogenic diets due to the increased risk of neural tube defects, even if they take folic acid supplements.

ModerateRefutesMEDIUM confidence
Women who reported consuming low-carbohydrate diets in the year prior to conception... were 30% more likely to have an infant with a neural tube defect.
Lee Crosby et al. · Frontiers in Nutrition · 2021

Why this rating

Based on observational studies (National Birth Defects Prevention Study).

Source

Ketogenic Diets and Chronic Disease: Weighing the Benefits Against the Risks

Lee Crosby et al. · Frontiers in Nutrition · 2021

narrative_reviewCited 215×
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