Ketogenic Diet may lower friendly gut bacteria and increase cholesterol levels

A study from the Centre for Nutrition, Exercise, and Metabolism, published in *Cell Reports Medicine*, explored the effects of different diets on 53 healthy adults over 12 weeks. Participants followed either a moderate sugar diet, a low-sugar diet (less than 5% of calories from sugar), or a ketogenic (keto) low-carbohydrate diet (less than 8% of calories from carbohydrates).

Key findings include:

- Increased Cholesterol: The keto diet raised cholesterol levels and apolipoprotein B (apoB), increasing heart disease risk, while the low-sugar diet reduced LDL cholesterol.

- Reduced Gut Bacteria: The keto diet decreased beneficial Bifidobacteria, unlike the low-sugar diet.

- Glucose Tolerance: The keto diet reduced glucose tolerance, impacting carbohydrate processing.

- Fat Loss: Both diets led to fat loss, with keto showing a 2.9 kg average loss and low-sugar a 2.1 kg loss.

Researchers suggest that a low-sugar diet is healthier for most people, aligning with government guidelines to limit free sugar intake.