Several studies have suggested that the keto diet may affect cholesterol levels. When people consume low amounts of carbohydrates, the liver produces less triglycerides, which may contribute to higher HDL cholesterol levels. However, the keto diet may increase LDL cholesterol levels in some people. A subset of individuals experience an increase in cholesterol on a low-carbohydrate diet, especially if it is ketogenic and ultra-high fat.
This includes elevation of LDL, Non-HDL and important markers such as LDL particle number. In some cases, the ketogenic diet can raise total cholesterol and LDL levels in the short term. However, research suggests that total and LDL cholesterol levels decrease in the long term, while HDL cholesterol levels appear to increase (7, 8). While the ketogenic diet may be safe for most people, it may not be healthy for others.
A ketogenic diet may increase LDL cholesterol levels in some people at high risk of heart attack or stroke. Before we go into more detail about the ketogenic diet and cholesterol, let's start by looking at some basic facts about how cholesterol works. If you have type 1 diabetes, gallbladder problems or a genetic disorder that influences fat metabolism, consult a dietitian before adopting a keto diet. Based on these studies, one might assume that a keto diet can improve total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol.
Looking at population studies and clinical trials, the impact of the keto diet on lipids is modest, says Daniel Soffer, MD, an internist and lipidologist at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia. Based on the evidence reviewed, the association concluded that these diets allow weight loss, but are not superior to other weight loss diets. Public interest in supposedly life-extending diets remains high, but scientists caution that research on these diets in people is limited. In its strictest form, the keto diet consists of 75 per cent fat, 20 per cent protein and 5 per cent carbohydrates.
A conventional diet (except at the 3-month time point, when LDL cholesterol levels were transiently lower in the conventional diet group). Your doctor will take into account your specific circumstances, such as your general health, medications taken and other risk factors, before approving a keto diet. The bottom line is that the keto diet alone may not contribute to the increased cholesterol that some people report when starting the diet. The keto diet, short for ketogenic diet, is a popular diet that people use to lose weight and improve their overall health and well-being.
Close communication with your healthcare professional and regular testing are key factors when starting any new dietary regime, including the ketogenic diet, to ensure a safe journey. In general, a keto diet is healthy, safe and suitable for most people, although more research is needed on the long-term effects (. Animal studies have suggested that a keto diet may cause changes in foetal growth and increase anxiety and depression in adulthood (5). On the keto diet, each day you're eating up to 80 percent of your calories from fat and stick to 20 to 50 grams of net carbs, a term used in popular diets, including keto and Atkins, but which is not officially recognised in the medical community.
