Peter Turnbaugh and a group of scientists from UC San Francisco have been conducting studies on how Ketogenic Diets (KDs) are favorably altering the gut.
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The body enters ketosis when 'instead of carbs for energy, the body burns fat' as defined by Mayo Clinic.
Although there are several variations to the Ketogenic Diet, a general guideline is that one's consumption is "high in fat, adequate in protein and low in carbohydrates. This combination changes the way energy is used in the body, converting fat into fatty acids and ketones in the liver."
Turnbaugh's new study zooms into how the Ketogenic Diet affects gut bacteria or microbiomes.
Seventeen people were chosen to participate in an 8-week long study. They were non-diabetic, overweight, and were provided with two different diets.
Within a controlled hospital environment, the scientists compared the differences between four weeks on a ketogenic diet and four weeks on a standard diet.
Nineteen types of bacterial genera were detected to have significant changes as a result of a shift in diet.
Turnbaugh shares, 'that the effects of ketogenic diets on the microbiome are not just about the diet itself, but how the diet alters the body's metabolism, which then has downstream effects on the microbiome.'
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From Epilepsy to Autoimmune Disorder
Another revelation from their study is 'that the KD-associated gut microbiota reduces the levels of intestinal pro-inflammatory Th17 cells.'
Th17 cells are 'are critical mediators of the cellular immune response' as defined by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
'Functionally, Th17 cells play a role in host defense against extracellular pathogens by mediating the recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages to infected tissues. Moreover, it has become evident that aberrant regulation of Th17 cells may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of multiple inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.'
Weighing out the Pros and Cons of KDs
As Ketogenic Diets have aroused exciting research, there remain a few arguments against the trend.
Mayo Clinic reminds us that 'very low carbohydrate diets tend to have higher rates of side effects, including constipation, headaches, bad breath, and more. Also, meeting the diet's requirements means cutting out many healthy foods, making it difficult to meet your micronutrient needs.'
A high ratio of fat incorporated in one's diet also raises the concern over the risk of heart failure and diabetes.
Dr. Neel Chokshi from the Sports Cardiology and Fitness Program at Penn Medicine says, 'not all fats are created equal. Consuming a lot of saturated fats, like the ones found in fast food and red meat, increases a person's risk for atherosclerosis, which promotes coronary disease and heart attacks. Healthier fats - called monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats - are found in foods like eggs, fish, and nuts.'
On the favorable side of KDs, Turnbaugh states 'For many people, maintaining a strict low-carbohydrate or ketogenic diet is extremely challenging, but if future studies find that there are health benefits from the microbial shifts caused by ketone bodies themselves, that could make for a much more palatable therapeutic approach.'
