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CCTS In Focus: Bionutrition -The Keto Diet

Written by Ciara Mitchell, PhD, RDN, LD – January 9, 2025
Keto DietAs the year 2025 commences, many are preparing to start a diet regimen to help shave off pounds gained over the holidays. During the first quarter of the year, internet searches for diet trends often peak, and according to Google data, the keto diet was the most searched diet of all the diet trends in 2021. At the forefront of advancing nutrition science, the CCTS Bionutrition Unit plays a critical role in supporting studies that examine the impact of dietary patterns on health outcomes. The unit specializes in controlled feeding studies, meal preparation, and dietary protocol development, providing the resources needed to drive impactful research.

One such multi-site study, part of the NIH’s Nutrition for Precision Health initiative, is a collaborative effort involving the CCTS and its Partner Network member, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in addition to other CTSA hubs UNC-Chapel Hill, UCLA, and Northwestern University. This study investigates how individuals respond to three distinct diets, including a high healthy-fat, low-carb diet such as the keto diet, with the goal of understanding how dietary patterns can be tailored to improve health. The CCTS Bionutrition Unit prepares, packages, and provides the carefully designed meals used in the study, ensuring precision and consistency across research sites. Read more about this study here.

What is the Keto Diet?

meto chartThe ketogenic diet (KD) is a low-carbohydrate, moderate-protein, and high-fat dietary eating pattern that is intended to cause the body to burn fat for energy instead of carbohydrates, a process known as ketosis. This eating pattern is contrary to established evidence-based nutritional guidelines for healthful eating, which promote the consumption of nutrient-rich carbohydrate foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. The traditional keto diet pattern is high in fat, moderate in protein, and low in carbohydrates, typically consisting of 1 g of protein per kilogram of body weight, 10–15 g of carbohydrates per day, with the remaining calories from fat. The standard keto diet now consists of 70–80% calories from fat, 10–20% from protein, and 5–10% from carbohydrates.

History and Evolution of the Keto Diet

The ketogenic diet has been around since the early 20th century. In the early 1900s, it was noted that starvation effectively treated epilepsy by inducing a ketone body known as beta-hydroxybutyrate (a marker of ketosis), which serves as a form of energy when the body utilizes fat for fuel. In the 1920s, physicians tried to mimic the effects of starvation using a ketogenic diet as a treatment for epilepsy in children. For more than two decades, the KD was widely used as a form of treatment for epilepsy. However, with the introduction of antiepileptic drugs, the use of the KD drastically declined. In the 1970s, Dr. Robert Atkins, the founder of the Atkins Diet, promoted a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, and high-protein diet to induce weight loss, sparking widespread interest in the KD as a weight-loss method. Although some suggest that the KD is healthful in promoting weight loss, research is limited due to small sample sizes and a lack of data on the long-term risks and benefits of the KD.

Keto Diet and Weight Loss

The exact mechanism behind weight loss on the keto diet is still unclear, but scientists believe that ketosis reduces appetite by suppressing ghrelin, an appetite-related hormone. Studies show that it takes several weeks to achieve appetite suppression. However, due to its restrictive nature, many fail to remain on this diet pattern, and those who lose weight from following a KD often regain the weight within a year.

• Considerations for Following the Ketogenic Diet •
Individuals with pancreatic disease, a history of eating disorders, or gallbladder disease should avoid following this eating pattern. Following a KD may also have short-term risks, including upset stomach, dizzy spells, and headaches. Additionally, due to the low intake of fiber-rich, nutrient-dense foods, this diet pattern can lead to constipation, high cholesterol, and vitamin deficiencies.

• Tips for Following a Ketogenic Diet •
keto plateSimply avoiding carbohydrates and consuming fatty foods is not the best approach for promoting health while following this diet pattern. Aiming for quality fats and nutritive low-carb vegetables is optimal. Below is a list of healthy fats to include:
  • Avocados are a fruit that is mainly composed of fats. They are a good source of potassium and fiber, making this fruit a heart-healthy choice.
  • Cheese is a good source of protein, calcium, vitamin B12, and phosphorus, which promotes bone health.
  • Whole eggs contain an array of nutrients including protein, vitamin A, folate, vitamins B12, B5, B2, and selenium. Although eggs have cholesterol, studies suggest that eggs can improve the good cholesterol (HDL), making them heart-healthy choices.
  • Fish, especially fatty fish such as salmon, trout, tuna, sardines, and mackerel, is packed with many nutrients to promote heart health and overall well-being. Not only is fish a high-quality protein but it contains omega-3 fatty acids which contribute to brain health.
  • Nuts and seeds are highly nutritious containing antioxidants, fiber, and protein.
  • Extra virgin olive oil, a monounsaturated fat, contains antioxidants, and vitamins E and K, which may help fight inflammation and prevent stroke and heart disease.

Want to learn more about what the CCTS Biontrition Unit can do for you and your research? Learn more. Stay informed of future events by subscribing to the weekly CCTS Digest and connect with us on LinkedIn.

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