The Impact of the Ketogenic Diet on the Lipid Profile in Adults: A Comprehensive Review and Meta-Regression Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-regression analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 41621647 · doi:10.1016/j.eprac.2026.01.009
What was done
Authors conducted a systematic review and random-effects meta-regression analysis of randomized controlled trials across five electronic databases to assess the effect of the ketogenic diet on lipid profile parameters in adults compared to control diets.
What was found
Across 62 randomized controlled trials, the ketogenic diet resulted in: - Decreased triglyceride levels (WMD: -19.96 mg/dl, 95% CI: -26.10 to -13.81) - Decreased triglyceride/HDL-C ratio (WMD: -0.31, 95% CI: -0.49 to -0.12) - Increased HDL-C (WMD: 3.61 mg/dl, 95% CI: 1.44 to 5.57) - Increased LDL-C (WMD: 8.49 mg/dl, 95% CI: 5.45 to 11.52) - Increased total cholesterol (WMD: 8.14 mg/dl, 95% CI: 3.41 to 12.88) HDL-C changes correlated linearly with intervention duration.
Why it matters
This review shows that while ketogenic diets improve triglycerides and HDL-C, they also cause modest increases in LDL-C and total cholesterol.
Limits
The abstract does not report the total participant count, participant baseline health characteristics, or control diet compositions. Only intermediate lipid biomarkers were assessed, leaving long-term cardiovascular outcomes unknown.
Cited by
- supports A ketogenic diet raises HDL cholesterol and reduces blood triglycerides.