Effects of the Ketogenic Diet on Microbiota Composition and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Women with Overweight/Obesity.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of a 6-week ketogenic diet on biochemical parameters, gut microbiota, and fecal short-chain fatty acids in women with overweight/obesity.
Results Summary
The ketogenic diet led to significant reductions in body mass index, fasting glucose, insulin, and other metabolic markers, but also caused unfavorable changes in gut microbiota composition, including increased pathogenic genera and decreased beneficial SCFAs.
Population
Women aged 26-46 years with overweight/obesity.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
6 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6-week ketogenic diet | decrease | mean body mass index | women with overweight/obesity | from 29.81 ± 4.74 to 27.12 ± 4.23 kg/m2 | decreased | #1 |
6-week ketogenic diet | decrease | fasting glucose levels | women with overweight/obesity | - | decreased | #2 |
6-week ketogenic diet | decrease | insulin levels | women with overweight/obesity | - | decreased | #3 |
6-week ketogenic diet | decrease | homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance | women with overweight/obesity | - | decreased | #4 |
6-week ketogenic diet | decrease | hemoglobin A1C levels | women with overweight/obesity | - | decreased | #5 |
6-week ketogenic diet | decrease | urea levels | women with overweight/obesity | - | decreased | #6 |
6-week ketogenic diet | decrease | creatinine levels | women with overweight/obesity | - | decreased | #7 |
6-week ketogenic diet | increase | uric acid levels | women with overweight/obesity | - | increased | #8 |
6-week ketogenic diet | increase | serum zonulin levels | women with overweight/obesity | - | increased | #9 |
6-week ketogenic diet | decrease | fecal butyrate levels | women with overweight/obesity | - | decreased | #10 |
6-week ketogenic diet | decrease | fecal propionate levels | women with overweight/obesity | - | decreased | #11 |
6-week ketogenic diet | decrease | fecal acetate levels | women with overweight/obesity | - | decreased | #12 |
6-week ketogenic diet | decrease | fecal total short-chain fatty acid levels | women with overweight/obesity | - | decreased | #13 |
6-week ketogenic diet | decrease | beta diversity | women with overweight/obesity | - | decreased | #14 |
6-week ketogenic diet | increase | Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio | women with overweight/obesity | - | increased | #15 |
6-week ketogenic diet | increase | Oscilibacter relative abundance | women with overweight/obesity | - | increased | #16 |
6-week ketogenic diet | increase | Blautia relative abundance | women with overweight/obesity | - | increased | #17 |
6-week ketogenic diet | increase | Akkermensia relative abundance | women with overweight/obesity | - | increased | #18 |
6-week ketogenic diet | decrease | Prevotella relative abundance | women with overweight/obesity | - | decreased | #19 |
6-week ketogenic diet | decrease | Bifidobacter abundance | women with overweight/obesity | - | decreased | #20 |
6-week ketogenic diet | increase | Escherichia abundance | women with overweight/obesity | - | increased | #21 |
6-week ketogenic diet | increase | Klebsilella abundance | women with overweight/obesity | - | increased | #22 |
6-week ketogenic diet | increase | Listeria abundance | women with overweight/obesity | - | increased | #23 |
Background/Objectives: The ketogenic diet (KD) is a dietary model that can impact metabolic health and microbiota and has been widely discussed in recent years. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 6-week KD on biochemical parameters, gut microbiota, and fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in women with overweight/obesity. Methods: Overall, 15 women aged 26-46 years were included in this study. Blood samples, fecal samples, and anthropometric measurements were evaluated at the beginning and end of this study. Results: After KD, the mean body mass index decreased from 29.81 ± 4.74 to 27.12 ± 4.23 kg/m2, and all decreases in anthropometric measurements were significant (p < 0.05). Fasting glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, hemoglobin A1C, urea, and creatinine levels decreased, whereas uric acid levels increased (p < 0.05). Furthermore, increased serum zonulin levels were noted (p = 0.001), whereas fecal butyrate, propionate, acetate, and total SCFA levels decreased (p < 0.05). When the changes in microbiota composition were examined, a decrease in beta diversity (p = 0.001) was observed. After the intervention, a statistically significant increase was noted in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (p = 0.001). Although Oscilibacter, Blautia, and Akkermensia relative abundances increased, Prevotella relative abundance and Bifidobacter abundance, which were the dominant genera before the KD, decreased. Moreover, the abundance of some pathogenic genera, including Escherichia, Klebsilella, and Listeria, increased. Conclusions: In healthy individuals, KD may cause significant changes in microbial composition, leading to dysbiosis and long-term adverse outcomes with changes in serum zonulin and fecal SCFA levels.