A high-fat, low-carb diet may help improve pancreatic function in people with type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that patients who followed this eating regimen — known as the keto diet — showed signs of reduced stress in insulin-producing cells, raising hopes that this approach could help better manage the disease in some cases.
The ketogenic diet aims to put the body into a metabolic state called ketosis, where the body burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates.
In the latest study conducted in the US, scientists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham analyzed 51 adults with type 2 diabetes, aged 55–62. The participants were divided into two groups: one that followed the keto diet and another that followed a low-fat diet, both designed to maintain body weight rather than promote weight loss.
The researchers measured changes in a blood marker known as the proinsulin–C-peptide ratio, which indicates how hard the pancreas is working to produce insulin.
The results, published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, showed that although both groups lost some weight, those who followed the ketogenic diet had greater improvement in this indicator.
This suggests that the keto diet may reduce stress on the beta cells of the pancreas, which are responsible for producing insulin.
Lead researcher Marian Yurchishin said that three months of following a ketogenic diet improved the function of these cells in patients with type 2 diabetes, and that these improvements were associated with changes in the pancreatic stress index.
However, experts emphasize that the study is small and short-term, and does not prove that type 2 diabetes can be cured through diet alone.
Type 2 diabetes affects around six million people in the UK and is closely linked to obesity, lack of physical activity and diet, although genetic factors also play a role.
Lifestyle changes, such as diet and physical activity, remain essential in managing the disease. The researchers emphasize that further studies are needed to understand whether the ketogenic diet can have a long-term role in improving pancreatic function or the course of the disease.
Meanwhile, other studies have also pointed out the negative sides of the keto diet. A study from the University of Bath showed that following a very low-carb diet for 12 weeks was associated with increased cholesterol and a decrease in beneficial bacteria in the gut.
According to this study, although the diet can help with weight loss, it may have negative effects on metabolic health in some individuals.
Scientists also observed changes in the gut microbiome, including decreases in bacteria linked to digestive health and the immune system, as well as increases in blood cholesterol levels, which are associated with a higher risk of heart disease.
They stressed that the response to the diet varies from person to person and that the long-term effects still remain unclear. /GazetaExpress/
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