Credits: Social Media
The Keto diet could harm your friendly gut bacteria and raise cholesterol, study says
A new study suggests that following the keto diet could harm your friendly gut bacteria and raise cholesterol levels, despite the low-carb, high-fat diet being widely popular for offering many health benefits.
We are constantly told about the benefits of diets, such as the longevity diet that can increase your life by ten years, or how the Mediterranean diet can reduce acne. However, recently published research reveals what harm the ketogenic diet can do to your health.
Following the keto diet could raise cholesterol
The ketogenic diet (commonly referred to as the keto diet) involves consuming a low amount of carbohydrate foods and replacing them with fat to help your body burn fat for energy. Healthline explains that health benefits can include weight loss and lowering your risk for certain diseases.
However, a recent study reveals that ketogenic low-carbohydrate diets can increase cholesterol levels and reduce beneficial gut bacteria, specifically Bifidobacterium.
Research from the Centre for Nutrition, Exercise, and Metabolism, published in Cell Reports Medicine, titled looked at the long-term effects the diet had with participants.
The investigation involved 53 healthy adults for up to 12 weeks. Participants followed either a ketogenic (keto) low-carbohydrate diet (less than 8% of calories from carbohydrates), a moderate sugar diet (control), or a low-sugar diet (less than 5% of calories from sugar).
- MORE ON DIETS: Acid-reducing diet rich in fruit and veg lowers heart and kidney disease risk, study finds
One of the key findings showed that the keto diet raised cholesterol levels, particularly in small and medium-sized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles. The diet increased apolipoprotein B (ApoB), which causes plaque buildup in arteries.
Dr. Aaron Hengist, lead researcher of the study, highlighted the concerning cholesterol findings.
He said: “Despite reducing fat mass, the ketogenic diet increased the levels of unfavorable fats in the blood of our participants, which, if sustained over years, could have long-term health implications such as increased risk of heart disease and stroke.”
Friendly gut bacteria is also at risk
The keto diet also altered gut microbiome composition, notably decreasing Bifidobacteria, beneficial bacteria often found in probiotics.
Very Well Health states that Bifidobacteria are good bacteria found in your intestinal tract.
The study explains that these bacteria has wide-ranging benefits such as producing vitamin B, inhibiting pathogens and harmful bacteria, and lowering cholesterol.
Highlights of the study show that low free-sugar or carbohydrate intake reduces body fat, but not energy expenditure. Four weeks of a ketogenic diet increases atherogenic lipoprotein profile, and it can also alter gut microbial beta diversity and skeletal muscle phenotype.
Therefore, it may be good for weight loss for a short amount of time, but not beneficial as a lifestyle change.
