The Ketogenic Diet as a Transdiagnostic Treatment for Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Mechanisms and Clinical Outcomes

Abstract

This review explores the evidence for using a ketogenic diet as a transdiagnostic treatment for mental health disorders. We examine the biological pathophysiologic mechanisms that underlie many neuropsychiatric disorders—such as mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, glucose hypometabolism, and glutamate/GABA imbalance—that can be ameliorated by the ketogenic diet. Additionally, a literature review summarizes clinical trials and case reports on the ketogenic diet as a treatment for various psychiatric disorders. Recent research provides evidence that the ketogenic diet may be an effective treatment for schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, autism spectrum disorder, somatic disorders, eating disorders, and alcohol use disorder. Many psychiatric disorders have shared metabolic pathways that exacerbate or cause psychopathology. The ketogenic diet is a transdiagnostic treatment that can not only address metabolic dysfunction, but can also ameliorate symptoms like depression, anxiety, mania, psychosis, and cognitive impairment. These effects suggest that the diet has the potential to serve as a non-pharmacological treatment option and ease the global disease burden of neuropsychiatric disorders.