Very Low Energy Ketogenic Diet vs Mediterranean Diet for MASLD: Superior Steatosis Reduction in a Randomised Pilot Study - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #Ketogenic Diet
- #Weight Loss
- #MASLD
- A pilot study compared the effectiveness of a very low energy ketogenic diet (VLED) versus a Mediterranean diet (MD) for treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
- Participants with MASLD and a BMI of 27-35 kg/m² were randomized to either a 12-week VLED (3151 kJ/day) or MD (8950 kJ/day), with follow-up for 24 weeks.
- The VLED group showed a significantly greater reduction in hepatic steatosis (-77% vs. -14%) and total body weight loss (-13% vs. -4%) at 12 weeks compared to the MD group.
- At 24 weeks, the VLED group maintained a -14% weight loss, while the MD group had only -3% weight loss.
- Liver histology improved in both groups, but the VLED group had greater improvements in NAFLD activity score reduction (-2 vs. -1).
- The study suggests that VLED is more effective than MD for reducing hepatic steatosis and weight loss in MASLD patients with overweight/obesity.
- The VLED's accessibility and effectiveness make it a potential first-line therapy for MASLD patients.