In addition to its original use to treat epilepsy, more recent research has demonstrated improvements in weight loss and insulin and blood-glucose markers in the early stages a ketogenic diet, although these advantages disappear after about a year and depend on what type of diet is compared to a ketogenic diet.
The volume of research on the impact of a ketogenic diet on specific diseases, especially diabetes and obesity, is growing. In addition to its original use to treat epilepsy, more recent research has demonstrated improvements in weight loss and insulin and blood-glucose markers in the early stages a ketogenic diet, although these advantages disappear after about a year and depend on what type of diet is compared to a ketogenic diet. Similar benefits for insulin and blood-glucose markers have been shown from non-ketogenic diets when polyunsaturated fats replace carbohydrates or saturated fat. Ketogenic diets are also known to raise LDL-cholesterol in some people. LDL is the “bad” kind of cholesterol that we want to keep low to support heart health.