Self-reported menses physiology is positively modulated by a well-formulated, energy-controlled ketogenic diet vs. low fat diet in women of reproductive age with overweight/obesity

Study Title

Self-reported menstrual cycle is positively influenced by a well-designed, energy-controlled ketogenic diet compared to a low-fat diet in overweight/obese women of reproductive age

Study Information

Published in PLoS One on August 16, 2024, this study aimed to compare the effects of a ketogenic diet (KD) and a low-fat diet (LFD) on menstrual patterns in pre-menopausal overweight and obese women.

Key Findings

Both diets resulted in significant weight loss, primarily from fat mass, and improvements in insulin sensitivity and serum lipids. The KD led to an increase in fasting capillary beta-hydroxybutyrate (R-βHB) levels, independent of supplementation. Women on the KD reported subjective increases in menstrual frequency and intensity, as well as a return of menstruation for some who had not had a period in over a year. No changes in menstrual patterns were reported by women on the LFD.

Practical Implications

The study suggests that both nutrient-dense ketogenic diets and low-fat diets can improve weight, BMI, body composition, and blood parameters in pre-menopausal women. However, changes in self-reported menstrual patterns were predominantly observed in women following the ketogenic diet, indicating potential unique effects of nutritional ketosis on menstrual physiology, independent of weight loss.

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