Keto Diet Beats Mediterranean Diet in Clinical Trial, Study Finds

A new clinical trial indicates that a ketogenic diet may outperform both the Mediterranean and plant-based diets in improving metabolic health markers for individuals with obesity, prediabetes, and fatty liver disease. The study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, assigned 55 participants to follow one of three diets - ketogenic, Mediterranean, or plant-forward - all of which resulted in significant weight loss.

Despite losing roughly 10% of their body weight, the participants on the ketogenic diet experienced more substantial improvements in liver insulin sensitivity, liver fat reduction, blood sugar control, insulin levels, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) compared to those on the other two diets. Of note, 50% of the keto group achieved prediabetes remission, compared to 29% on the Mediterranean diet and 7% on the plant-forward diet.

The keto diet's high fat content, including saturated fat, did not negatively impact cholesterol levels. The findings suggest that restricting carbohydrates in the ketogenic diet may provide additional benefits beyond weight loss for those with metabolic issues related to obesity and fatty liver disease.