An isoproteic cocoa butter-based ketogenic diet fails to improve glucose homeostasis and promote weight loss in obese mice.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the impact of cocoa butter-based ketogenic and low-fat diets on weight loss and glucose homeostasis in obese mice.
Results Summary
The ketogenic diet (85% cocoa butter) did not significantly improve body fat loss or glucose tolerance in obese mice, while the low-fat diet (10% cocoa butter) led to beneficial body composition changes and improved glucose tolerance.
Population
Obese male and female mice
Effective Dosage
60% cocoa butter (high-fat diet), 85% cocoa butter (ketogenic diet), 10% cocoa butter (low-fat diet)
Duration
16 weeks (obesity induction) + 8 weeks (diet intervention)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ketogenic diet | no change | body fat loss | obese male and female mice | no significant change | ineffective at promoting significant body fat loss | #1 |
ketogenic diet | no change | glucose homeostasis | obese male and female mice | no significant change | ineffective at improving glucose homeostasis | #2 |
low-fat and high-complex carbohydrate diet | increase | body composition | obese male and female mice | - | exhibited beneficial body composition changes | #3 |
low-fat and high-complex carbohydrate diet | increase | glucose tolerance | obese male and female mice | - | improved glucose tolerance | #4 |
low-fat and high-complex carbohydrate diet | decrease | food intake | obese male and female mice | mild | attributed to a mild decrease in food intake | #5 |
low-fat and high-complex carbohydrate diet | increase | energy expenditure | obese male and female mice | mild | attributed to a mild increase in energy expenditure | #6 |
diet low in saturated fat and rich in complex carbohydrates | decrease | obesity | - | - | support the consumption as a potential dietary intervention for the treatment of obesity | #7 |
diet low in saturated fat and rich in complex carbohydrates | decrease | obesity-induced impairments in glycemia | - | - | support the consumption as a potential dietary intervention for the treatment of obesity-induced impairments in glycemia | #8 |
ketogenic diet | no change | glycemia | obese mice | - | fails to improve glycemia | #9 |
ketogenic diet | no change | weight loss | obese mice | - | fails to promote weight loss | #10 |
High-fat and very low-carbohydrate based ketogenic diets have gained considerable popularity as a nonpharmacological strategy for obesity, due to their potential to enhance weight loss and improve glucose homeostasis. However, the effectiveness of a ketogenic diet toward metabolic health is equivocal. To better understand the impact of ketogenic diets in obesity, male and female mice were fed a 60% cocoa butter-based high-fat diet for 16-wk to induce obesity, following which mice were transitioned to either an 85% cocoa butter fat-based ketogenic diet, a 10% cocoa butter fat-based low-fat diet, or maintained on a high-fat diet for an additional 8-wk. All experimental diets were matched for sucrose and protein content and contained an identical micronutrient profile, with complex carbohydrates being the primary carbohydrate source in the low-fat diet. The transition to a ketogenic diet was ineffective at promoting significant body fat loss and improving glucose homeostasis in obese male and female mice. Alternatively, obese male and female mice transitioned to a low-fat and high-complex carbohydrate diet exhibited beneficial body composition changes and improved glucose tolerance that may, in part, be attributed to a mild decrease in food intake and a mild increase in energy expenditure. Our findings support the consumption of a diet low in saturated fat and rich in complex carbohydrates as a potential dietary intervention for the treatment of obesity and obesity-induced impairments in glycemia. Furthermore, our results suggest that careful consideration should be taken when considering a ketogenic diet as a nonpharmacological strategy for obesity.NEW & NOTEWORTHY It has been demonstrated that ketogenic diets may be a nutritional strategy for alleviating hyperglycemia and promoting weight loss in obesity. However, there are a number of inconsistencies with many of these studies, especially with regard to the macronutrient and micronutrient compositions of the diets being compared. Our work demonstrates that a ketogenic diet that is both micronutrient-matched and isoproteic with its comparator diets fails to improve glycemia or promote weight loss in obese mice.