A Washington University study reveals that what people eat during weight loss can influence metabolic health, with the ketogenic diet delivering the most significant improvements in liver fat reduction and glucose regulation, beyond mere weight loss.
A new clinical trial from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that what people eat while losing weight may matter as much as the weight loss itself, particularly for liver health and blood sugar control. Published in Cell Metabolism, the study compared ketogenic, Mediterranean and low-fat diets in adults with obesity, prediabetes and fatty liver disease, and found the keto approach delivered the strongest metabolic gains.
The trial enrolled 55 people, of whom 42 completed it. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three tightly controlled diets, and all meals were provided throughout the study, which ran for about five months. The groups lost similar amounts of weight overall, but the metabolic outcomes were not the same. According to the reports, the ketogenic diet produced a sharper fall in liver fat, a bigger improvement in liver insulin sensitivity and a more pronounced drop in average glucose and insulin levels over 24 hours.
Researchers said liver fat fell by 67% in the ketogenic group, compared with about 45% in both the Mediterranean and low-fat groups. The keto diet also improved liver insulin sensitivity by roughly two to three times more than the other diets. In addition, average 24-hour glucose declined by 20% in the ketogenic group, versus 8% in the other two groups, while daily insulin levels fell by 74%, compared with 44% and 27% respectively.
The study also suggested that the composition of the diet, not just the calories lost, can shape health outcomes. Half the participants on the ketogenic diet no longer met the criteria for prediabetes by the end of the trial, compared with 29% in the Mediterranean group and 7% in the low-fat, plant-rich group. At the same time, the researchers reported no major differences between groups in LDL cholesterol, ApoB or triglycerides over 24 hours, and they noted that weight loss itself improved muscle insulin sensitivity across all three diets.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
