Beyond weight loss: a review of the therapeutic uses of very-low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diets.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review and mechanistic discussion without systematic review methodology
PubMed 23801097 · doi:10.1038/ejcn.2013.116
What was done
Narrative review examining the historical and emerging therapeutic applications of very-low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diets beyond epilepsy and obesity, exploring physiological ketosis and potential mechanisms across multiple pathologies.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data, sample sizes, or effect estimates. It notes therapeutic potential for ketogenic diets in conditions including diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, acne, neurological diseases, cancer, and respiratory and cardiovascular risk factors.
Why it matters
Synthesizes diverse potential clinical applications of dietary ketosis that could reduce dependence on long-term pharmaceutical therapies.
Limits
Narrative review design lacking a systematic search protocol, study selection criteria, risk-of-bias assessment, or quantitative synthesis. Abstract provides no primary clinical trial data.
Cited by
- supports A standard ketogenic diet consists of 70% to 75% calories from fat, 20% from protein, and 5% to 10% (under 20 to 50 grams per day) from carbohydrates.