A Popular Weight Loss Method Proved Dangerous to Health 0 12

The ketogenic diet, which has gained widespread popularity as a quick weight loss method, may have dangerous side effects on metabolism. This conclusion was reached by scientists from the University of Utah, who studied the effects of a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet in a long-term experiment on mice. The results were published in the journal Science Advances (Sci Adv).

During the study, the animals were fed different types of diets, including the keto diet, for nine months. Mice on this diet did indeed gain less weight; however, male mice developed fatty liver disease and experienced impaired liver function — signs of metabolic disorders. The scientists note that with an excess of fats, they inevitably accumulate in the blood and liver, overloading the body's metabolic systems.

Additionally, mice on the keto diet exhibited disturbances in blood sugar regulation. Despite low glucose and insulin levels, the problem lay with the pancreas: its cells produced insufficient insulin. According to the authors, the excessive amount of lipids could have a toxic effect on these cells.

Importantly, the identified changes were found to be reversible: after discontinuing the keto diet, the carbohydrate metabolism indicators in the mice returned to normal. Nevertheless, the researchers emphasize that the findings raise questions about the safety of long-term adherence to a diet with an extremely high fat content and recommend discussing such dietary regimes with a physician.