Diet with a ketogenic lifestyle may lead to elevated cholesterol levels and blood sugar in mice, according to recent research findings.
In a recent study, researchers explored the long-term impact of a keto diet on the metabolic health of mice. The keto diet, a strict low-carb diet that aims to induce ketosis, was found to have both positive and negative effects.
Mice maintained on a keto diet for almost a year showed improvements in weight loss, with those on the diet gaining less weight than mice on a high-fat diet. However, the keto diet group also displayed high blood lipid (fat) levels, fatty liver disease, and an impaired ability to regulate blood glucose (sugar) levels due to insufficient insulin secretion.
The mice in the keto diet group did not release sufficient insulin to normalize blood glucose levels, and they showed impaired glucose tolerance, which was more pronounced than in the high-fat diet group. Moreover, the keto diet group had higher levels of plasma triglycerides than the high-fat and low-fat diet groups. Plasma cholesterol levels were also elevated in both the high-fat and keto diet groups.
The keto diet, which consists of around 70–75% fat, 20–25% protein, and 5–10% carbs, forces the body to use fats as a source of energy instead of glycogen. After switching to a low-fat diet, mice that were maintained on a keto diet for a long time showed improvements in glucose tolerance within 4 weeks.
The study's findings underscore the need for further research in animals and humans to establish the cardiometabolic benefits and risks of prolonged keto diet feeding. Dr. Gallop noted a caveat that the study's findings may not necessarily recapitulate what happens in humans.
The keto diet has been used for managing epilepsy for over 100 years and for managing obesity since the 1970s. However, this study suggests that while it may be effective in inducing weight loss in mice with obesity, it continues to exhibit high blood lipid levels and impaired glucose regulation.
In conclusion, while the keto diet may be effective for weight loss, this study raises concerns about its long-term effects on metabolic health. Further research is needed to fully understand the benefits and risks of this dietary approach.
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