Can the Keto Diet Help Control Depression? New Study Reveals Surprising Findings

**Islamabad (Qudrat Daily):** A new study has revealed that the **ketogenic (keto) diet** may help reduce symptoms of depression in individuals who do not respond adequately to conventional antidepressant medications.

According to scientists at the **University of Oxford**, participants who followed a keto diet for **six weeks** showed a noticeable reduction in depressive symptoms compared to those encouraged to adopt a **plant-based diet**.

The study included **88 individuals** suffering from **treatment-resistant depression**. Participants on the keto diet—who limited their daily carbohydrate intake to **less than 30 grams**—experienced an average improvement of **10.5 points** on a 27-point depression scale. In contrast, the group following a plant-based diet showed an average improvement of **8.3 points**.

Lead researcher **Min Gao** stated that after six weeks, the ketogenic diet demonstrated **antidepressant benefits** compared to the control diet. She noted that this **randomized clinical trial** suggests keto diets could serve as an **effective adjunct therapy** for individuals with treatment-resistant depression.

Experts involved in the research emphasized that **lifestyle changes play a crucial role** in managing depression. The study provides early evidence that the keto diet may be safely combined with **traditional depression treatments**.

However, researchers cautioned that **further studies are needed** to confirm the long-term effects and safety of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of depression.