Volume 29, Issue 162, August 2025

Neuroprotective effects of the ketogenic diet and its potential in psychiatric treatment- A review

Agnieszka Czernecka^1♦, Patrycja Pysz², Marek Borecki³, Karolina Jałocha³, Justyna Kuciel⁴, Maria Mroczka⁵, Kinga Świtała⁵, Dominik Tomczak⁶, Roksana Hrapkowicz⁷, Kinga Erazmus⁷

¹Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, Kronikarza Galla 25, 30-053 Kraków, Poland
²V Military Hospital with Polyclinic, Wrocławska 1-3, 30-901 Kraków, Poland
³Karol Marcinkowski University Hospital, Zyty 26, 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland
⁴Chrzanów District Hospital, Topolowa 16, 32-500 Chrzanów, Poland
⁵V Military Hospital with Polyclinic, Wrocławska 1-3, 30-901 Kraków, Poland
⁶Chrzanów District Hospital, Topolowa 16, 32-500 Chrzanów, Poland
⁷Ludwik Rydygier Specialist Hospital, Os. Złotej Jesieni 1, 31-820 Kraków, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Agnieszka Czernecka, Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, Kronikarza Galla 25, 30-053 Kraków, Poland

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Medical researchers have recently investigated new treatment methods for psychiatric disorders due to drug resistance in many patients. Clinical studies show that following different specific types of diets has a positive impact on health. According to existing literature, one of them is a ketogenic diet. This dietary restriction has a neuroprotective effect in response to reducing carbohydrates to 10%, with a shift in metabolism to fatty acids. The aim: This publication aims to present the theoretical mechanism of the ketogenic diet and its potential for application in medical conditions with an emphasis on psychiatric disorders. For this purpose, we analyzed clinical studies conducted in this area. Results: Evidence suggests that psychiatric disorders may be associated with disturbance in neurotransmitter balance, inflammation, mitochondrial and energy metabolism dysfunction, oxidative stress, and gene expression changes. Moreover, the ketogenic diet may affect the regulation of these pathological processes. While most studies have shown a potential positive impact, the current evidence remains insufficient to use it as a standardized therapeutic option. Conclusion: There is a close relationship between the use of the ketogenic diet and its impact on pathological mechanisms in individuals with psychiatric conditions. However, the results remain more theoretical, and studies with an extended observation period and more participants are required.

Keywords: ketogenic diet, drug resistance, psychiatric disorders, neurological disorders, nervous system, mitochondrial dysfunction

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e125ms3599

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i162.e125ms3599

Published: 07 August 2025