Work

Low-Carbohydrate (Ketogenic) Diet in Children with Obesity: Part 1—Diet Impact on Anthropometric Indicators and Indicators of Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The ketogenic diet has been successfully used in the last 100 years in the treatment of epilepsy and other neurological disorders. In recent decades, it gained wider application in the treatment of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. However, there have been only a few studies on its use in children with obesity and associated metabolic disorders. OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical and metabolic effects of a well-formulated low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diet in children with obesity. METHODS: One hundred children with obesity and metabolic disorders underwent initial anthropometric, laboratory, and ultrasound examinations. They were placed on a well-formulated ketogenic diet and monitored for 4 months. The 58 patients who completed the study underwent follow-up examinations to assess the effects of the diet on anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory markers of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, cardiovascular risk factors, and certain hormone levels. Compliance with the diet, common difficulties in adhering to it, side effects, and positive changes in the patients' health were analyzed. RESULTS: = 0.04). The cases of hepatosteatosis decreased twofold, the number of patients with arterial hypertension was significantly reduced, as well as the number of children receiving antihypertensive therapy. Additionally, the number of patients meeting the criteria for metabolic syndrome decreased threefold. CONCLUSIONS: A well-formulated short-term ketogenic diet is effective in treating obesity, metabolic syndrome, and related comorbidities, and can be part of a comprehensive approach for these patients.

Source: Diseases

DOI: 10.3390/diseases13040094

Authors: Ivanka Nikolova Paskaleva, Nartsis Nisim Kaleva, Teodora Dimcheva Dimcheva, Petya Petkova Markova, Ivan Stefanov Ivanov

Institution: Medical University Plovdiv

Language: English

Topic: Diet and metabolism studies

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,172