A recent study discovered that mice fed a ketogenic diet – a high-fat, low-carbohydrate eating plan favored by influencers, athletes, and weight-conscious individuals – exhibited an accumulation of aging cells in various organs.

The findings, published in the journal Science Advances under the title “Ketogenic diet induces p53-dependent cellular senescence in multiple organs,”  ’ highlighted that this diet imposed elevated stress levels on vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, brain, and liver.

Remarkably, the study indicated that the build-up of aging cells, referred to as cellular senescence, could be reversed in mice taking intermittent breaks from the ketogenic diet.

In response to these research observations, independent experts contended that the outcomes did not conclusively indicate the harmful effects of ketogenic diets on human health. Wilson Tang, a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic, emphasized the need for a cautious and considered approach towards interpreting the study, stating that while the results were significant, they did not definitively establish the diets as detrimental.

“the “results don’t prove that ketogenic diets are harmful in people. This paper is an important addition. We need to be more cautious and less cavalier.”

The ketogenic diet is premised on the concept that minimizing carbohydrate intake prompts the body to utilize fat for energy production. This metabolic process leads to the liver generating ketones, which gives the diet its name.

Originally introduced in the 1920s by a Mayo Clinic doctor to manage epilepsy in children, the ketogenic diet has gained popularity among those aiming to shed excess weight, regulate blood sugar levels, enhance athletic performance, or attain other health benefits.

David Gius, a radiation oncologist at the University of Texas Health Science Centre, investigated the impacts of the diet on p53, a crucial protein involved in combating cancer. Among its various functions, p53 plays a role in coordinating cellular senescence, a mechanism where stressed cells halt division to prevent complications; it typically eradicates senescent cells.

Jesús Gil, a cellular senescence expert from Imperial College London not affiliated with the study, elucidated how persistent senescent cells could impede tissue repair capabilities and release inflammatory molecules with potentially harmful effects when they linger in the body.

The journal further states, “Gius and his team stumbled on the senescence connection when they put mice on a supercharged ketogenic diet in which about 90 per cent of the calories came from fat, mainly in the form of the shortening Crisco.

“A control group of rodents dined on food in which fat provided only 17% of the calories. After the mice stayed on these diets for 7 or 21 days, the researchers analyzed tissue samples from their hearts, kidneys, livers, and brains.

“Levels of the p53 protein climbed in animals on the ketogenic diet, the team found. The scientists also detected an increase in other molecules that indicate the presence of senescent cells.”

The researchers discovered that after a three-week break from the diet, the number of senescent cells had almost returned to normal.

Additionally, when the mice were fed a high-fat diet for four days and then switched to a normal diet for seven days, senescent cells did not accumulate. The study’s lead author, Gil, was surprised to find that the senescent cells disappeared when the mice returned to a normal diet, suggesting that these cells may have been in a reversible, inactive state rather than truly senescent.

According to cell biologist Yi Zhu from Mayo Clinic, senescent cells don’t always indicate unhealthy tissue, as they also play a role in wound healing.

Zhu noted, “Before anyone could claim keto diets are dangerous, researchers would need to demonstrate that the cells harm the mice. Only showing an increase in senescence is not enough to show that the diet is detrimental.”

Also, an obesity researcher and statistician at Indiana University, David Allison, noted that the new study finds an effect “for this (one) diet that happens to be ketogenic. That doesn’t mean it’s true for all ketogenic diets.”

Furthermore, an obesity researcher and statistician at Indiana University, David Allison, highlighted that the new study finds an effect “for this (one) diet that happens to be ketogenic. That doesn’t mean it’s true for all ketogenic diets.”

While the findings haven’t been duplicated in human studies, Gius suggests that the results may still hold a valuable lesson for individuals adhering to ketogenic diets, potentially providing insight into the long-term effects of such regimens.

“We aren’t saying the diet is bad. You probably need to take a break,” he advised.