Ketogenic Diet Outperforms Mediterranean Diet for Metabolic Health in Type 2 Diabetes

Nutritional intervention is vital in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Meanwhile, gut microbiota (GM) is associated with obesity and metabolic changes. Despite this connection, the effects of dietary approaches, such as the very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) and Mediterranean diet (MD), on T2DM and GM are poorly understood.

To explore this issue, a study has examined the impact of VLCKD and MD on 11 individuals with T2DM and obesity and their gut microbiota. After six months of dietary interventions, the study found that VLCKD significantly reduced body mass index (−5.8 kg/m²), waist circumference (−15.9 cm), HbA1C levels (-1.2%), and triglycerides (-62.6 mg/dl) compared to baseline. Additionally, VLCKD demonstrated a more pronounced positive effect on the GM composition than MD, with increased levels of beneficial bacterial markers, particularly Verrucomicrobiae,…