Impact of ketogenic diet on insulin and thyroid hormones in a healthy cohort

Objective: To determine the effect of a ketogenic diet (KD) on the levels of insulin and thyroid hormone in healthy adult individuals. Methodology: This single-arm comparative experimental study was conducted at the Clinical trial room and Physiology laboratory, Khyber medial university, Peshawar. A total of 46 individuals were selected falling under the inclusion criteria. Ketogenic diet was given to the participants for four weeks. Blood was obtained from subjects on day 1, and after 29 days. Paired sample t test was used for pre- and post-trial comparison and ANOVA was used for comparison at day 0, and 29th day. Results: Mean age was 29.8±5.28 years. The mean value of thyroid stimulating hormone (0.005), T3 (<0.001) and insulin (0.003) statistically decrease from day 1 to day 29. But mean value of T4 increased from day 1 (6.26±0.8301) to day 29 (7.70±0.931). However, there was no significant difference for thyroid releasing hormones (TRH) on day 1 and day 29 (0.139). Conclusion: The KD statistically reduced the level of TSH, T3, TRH and Insulin while T4 level increases.  The clinicians should take into consideration patients with thyroid disorders or diabetes while prescribing KD