Thread by @LuciaAronica

The results of the #KetoMedStudy are finally out! How low-carb do you need to go for glucose control? Is keto better than a low-carb Mediterranean diet with no refined grains (Med-Plus)? 👉 doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/n…

#keto #ketodiet #MediterraneanDiet #ketomedstudy #luciaaronica

Here's a brief summary of the study and results:


Randomized, crossover trial of keto vs. Med-Plus (12-weeks for each diet phase) for glucose control in 33 individuals with pre-diabetes/diabetes.

Potential wins for keto:
• Lower CGM average glucose and TG with lower meds
• Lower HbA1c (primary outcome) after accounting for meds reduction
• Better outcomes with greater weight loss and higher HDL for those who started with Keto in the first phase

Potential concerns with keto:
• 10% increase in LDL
• Reduced intake of certain nutrients (thiamine, folate, vitamin C, iron)
• Dietary patterns more similar to baseline diet and Med-Plus at 12-week follow-up

Clinicians takeaways
Keto may lead to better blood sugar control with lower meds and better TG and HDL compared to a low-carb Mediterranean diet in people with pre-diabetes or diabetes...

However, it may also lead to a mild increase in LDL and potential nutrient deficiencies. Clinicians should warn patients that a whole-food keto diet is a must to avoid the latter and make keto safe and sustainable in the long term.

Thanks to fabulous coauthors for the opportunity to contribute to this study! @GardnerPhD Gardner, @TheGuyititian @DaliaPerelman  Christina Petlura, Lindsay Durand, Anthony Crimarco, @KristenCunanan, Annie Chang, Christopher Dant, Jennifer Robinson, and @sunkimmd

@JeffStanleyMD Curious how this compares to the @virtahealth dataset

@JeffStanleyMD Overall cardiovascular health improved in your patient population despite the mild increase in LDL. Are you also able to have people stick to a whole-food keto diet to avoid nutrient deficiencies? Let's get this message across loud and clear!