Keto Diet and Depression — A Surprising Shift

Beginner | September 27, 2025

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Keto Diet and Depression: The Big Claim

A recent small study at Ohio State University (OSU) suggests the keto diet and depression may be closely linked, with the diet reducing symptoms by about 70% in some people. (Fox News) The participants in this study followed a well-formulated ketogenic diet for 10–12 weeks. (News‑Medical)

All participants were already receiving medication, counseling, or both for major depressive disorder before starting keto. (OSU News) The results showed consistent improvements—but the researchers also emphasize important caveats.

What the Study Found

Who Took Part & What They Did

The trial started with 24 college students, but only 16 of them completed the full 10–12 week program. (News‑Medical) They followed a specific keto protocol that limited carbohydrate intake to fewer than 50 grams per day, with higher fat and moderate protein. (OSU News) Rather than tracking calories, participants were simply told to eat when hungry and stop when full. (Fox News)

Mental Health & Cognitive Outcomes

By the end of the program, depression symptoms had dropped by an average of about 70%, which is a remarkable change. (Fox News; Healthline) In fact, as early as week 2, scores were already down roughly 37%. (Fox News) Students also reported broader improvements: better well-being, sharper memory and processing speed, and greater attention in daily life. (OSU News) Most participants even noticed physical benefits, such as an average weight loss of 11 pounds and a 2.4% drop in body fat. (Fox News)

Interpreting the Results

Strengths & Surprising Patterns

The “70% reduction” is striking—especially considering that many standard treatments (medication + therapy) often yield about 50% symptom reduction in similar time frames. (Fox News) What also stands out is that every participant showed some level of improvement—there were no non‑responders in this trial. (Metabolic Mind)

Major Caveats & Warnings

Despite the promising data, there are important warnings. There was no control group, which means we cannot be sure the improvements weren’t due to placebo effects, counseling, or simply the passage of time. (Fox News) The sample size was also very small, with only 16 people finishing the program, making it hard to generalize to larger populations. (News‑Medical) Finally, the researchers themselves stress this is a preliminary pilot study and call for larger, randomized trials before making strong claims. (OSU News) And of course, keto diets come with their own challenges: strict carbohydrate restriction and possible side effects, meaning they are not a good fit for everyone.

Vocabulary

Adjunctive (adjective) – added to another treatment, not replacing it
Example: The study suggests keto could be an adjunctive therapy for depression.
Protocol (noun) – a detailed plan of a medical or research procedure
Example: The keto protocol limited carbs to <50 grams/day.
Symptom (noun) – a sign or indication of a condition
Example: Feeling sad is a symptom of depression.
Baseline (noun) – the starting point before intervention
Example: Depression scores were measured at baseline.
Ketosis (noun) – a metabolic state where the body uses ketones for energy
Example: Nutritional ketosis is central to a keto diet.
Responders / Non‑responders (noun) – people who do / do not show improvement
Example: The study had no non‑responders: everyone improved.
Pilot (adjective) – small-scale trial conducted to evaluate feasibility
Example: This was a pilot study.
Generalize (verb) – apply findings more broadly
Example: We can’t generalize findings from 16 people.
Placebo (noun) – a “fake” treatment used in control groups
Example: Without a placebo group, we lack comparison.
Adherence (noun) – how well participants follow the protocol
Example: High adherence is critical in diet studies.

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

What key factors make the “70% reduction” result surprising?
Why is the absence of a control group a major limitation?
Do you think losing weight might have influenced mood improvement? Why or why not?
What does “adjunctive therapy” mean in this context?
If you were designing a follow-up study, what changes would you make?

Discussion Questions (About the Topic)

How feasible is a strict diet like keto for the average person who is depressed?
Can diet alone ever replace therapy or medication?
What risks or psychological challenges might come with restrictive eating?
What other diets or lifestyles might help mental health (e.g. Mediterranean diet)?
How do you feel about using food as a tool in mental wellness?

Related Idiom / Phrase

“Add fuel to the fire” — make an existing problem worse.
Application: If you try keto without guidance and struggle, you may “add fuel to the fire” of mental stress instead of improving mood.

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This article was inspired by: Fox News, OSU News, News-Medical, Healthline