Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39701054›Full record

ArticleNeuroimmunomodulation2025

KETO-MOOD: Ketogenic Diet for Microbiome Optimization and Overcoming Depression - A Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Katarzyna Hongler, Astrid Lounici, Erin Maurer, Ueli Lanz, Orsolya Szathmari, Yvonne Reuter, Sandra Nussbaum, Ines Steinborn, Annika Haedrich, Melina A Mölling and 6 more

Abstract readClinical Trial Protocol
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Neuroimmunomodulation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Katarzyna HonglerUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Astrid LouniciUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Erin MaurerUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Ueli LanzUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Orsolya SzathmariUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Yvonne ReuterUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Sandra NussbaumUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Ines SteinbornUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Annika HaedrichInstitut für Psychologie, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Melina A MöllingMEDIAN Zentrum für Verhaltensmedizin, Bad Pyrmont, Germany.
Ulf WeinUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Iona BocekUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Luca HersbergerStiftung für ganzheitliche Medizin (SGM), Klinik SGM Langenthal, Langenthal, Switzerland.
Annette B BrühlUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Undine E LangUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Timur LiwinskiUniversity Psychiatric Clinics Basel, Clinic for Adults, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMajor depressive disorder (MDD) significantly impacts millions worldwide, with limited success in achieving remission for many patients, leading to high disease burden and increased suicide risk. Psychotherapy and antidepressants, although effective, do not provide relief for all, prompting the search for alternative treatments. Ketogenic diets have demonstrated positive effects on brain health. Our study aims to investigate the efficacy of the ketogenic diet in alleviating MDD symptoms, filling a critical gap in psychiatric treatment options and offering a novel dietary approach with potential to mitigate disease burden and enhance mental well-being.

methodsThis phase 2 randomized controlled trial will evaluate the efficacy of a 10-week program of dietitian counseling and ketogenic meal provision versus an intervention with similar dietetic contact promoting a healthy, insulin-lowering, non-ketogenic diet. The primary outcome is the change in the Patient Health Questionnaire nine-item depression score. Secondary outcomes include cognitive and affective mindfulness, self-efficacy, sleep, cognitive function, work and social adjustment, and various immunological, metabolic, and microbiome markers at weeks 6 and 10.

conclusionThis study addresses a critical gap in depression treatment by exploring the ketogenic diet's potential as a metabolic mood enhancing intervention. Given the global impact of depression and limitations of current therapies, this research is valuable for exploring previously underappreciated neuroprotective and metabolic mechanisms and clinical benefits.

Indexed as

Diet, KetogenicGastrointestinal MicrobiomeMajor Depressive DisorderAdultClinical Trials, Phase II as TopicFemaleHumansMaleRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeKetogenic dietKetogenic metabolic therapyMetabolic psychiatryMicrobiomeNutritional therapy

Identifiers

PMID39701054
PMCPMC11844705

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.