New research suggests the keto diet could treat autoimmune disorders

It's a promising sign

Promising results from a recent study using mice may bring researchers closer to treating autoimmune disorders in people. Here’s what you need to know.

The keto diet has long been suspected to calm an overactive immune system, but recent results from a study involving MS-inflicted mice have finally filled scientists with hope – and more importantly, evidence. 

The study, from the University of California San Fransisco, has hailed the keto diet for its ability to improve the management of debilitating autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. 

While prescribed a keto diet, researchers behind this groundbreaking study observed gut and microbiome changes in the mice that notably attenuated their symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

What is the keto diet?

The ketogenic diet is a low-carb eating plan designed to use ketones from the breakdown of fats as a source of energy for your body. People on a ketogenic diet typically eat high amounts of fat, moderate amounts of protein and low amounts of carbohydrates. 

By eating a reduced amount of carbohydrates on a ketogenic diet, the body breaks down fat for energy and stays in a state of ketosis.

Though deemed unsafe for many people with certain medical conditions, the ketogenic diet has become a popular diet amongst individuals looking to promote weight loss – despite little scientific evidence to support the reasoning. 

Within the parameters of the keto diet, the main foods on the menu are meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, oils, avocado and nuts. Low-carbohydrate vegetables such as lettuce and cucumbers are common, but foods such as rice, pasta, fruit, grains, bread, beans and starchy vegetables are only eaten in small amounts – if at all.

Meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, oils, avocado and nuts. are keto-approved foods. Image: iStock

How the keto diet could impact autoimmune disorders

After observing the positive impact of a ketogenic diet on mice, scientists are optimistic about the potential for the diet to benefit people suffering from autoimmune disorders, such as the treatment of MS through diet and supplements.

The researchers found that mice fuelled by the keto diet produced more of a particular ketone body called β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB), and had less severe MS symptoms.

The additional ketone also prompted an increase in the gut bacterium Lactobacillus Murinus, producing a metabolite called indole lactic acid (ILA). ILA blocks the activation of T helper 17 immune cells, which are crucial in the advancement of MS and other autoimmune disorders.

"What was really exciting was finding that we could protect these mice from inflammatory disease just by putting them on a diet that we supplemented with these compounds," explains Peter Turnbaugh, PhD, of the Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine.

Researchers supplemented their ketogenic diet to reach the same positive results. Image: iStock

In MS-inflicted mice who were unable to naturally produce βHB in their intestines, researchers supplemented their ketogenic diet to reach the same positive results. 

While no similar studies have yet been conducted with human participants, the strong results in this study indicate the potential for people with autoimmune disorders to experience improved symptoms through diet and supplements. 

"The big question now is how much of this will translate into actual patients," Turnbaugh adds.

 "But I think these results provide hope for the development of a more tolerable alternative to helping those people than asking them to stick to a challenging restrictive diet."

Originally published as New research suggests the keto diet could treat autoimmune disorders