Study: Ketogenic diet has potential to treat irritable bowel syndrome

Rapidly changing microbiome

Interestingly, critics and supporters of the ketogenic diet often cite the same study to support their arguments. The study, published in Nature in 2014, showed that the gut microbiome adapts quite quickly when switching from a plant-based diet to an animal-based diet.

In the study, six men and four women followed a plant-based diet for five days, followed by a diet based on animal products for five days, and the microbiota was measured before and after each phase. Both diets allowed pathogens to enter the gut, and both diets produced butyrate, but the animal diet had significantly higher levels of isobutyrate.

The authors note that animal-based diets increased the abundance of Bilophila wadsworthia, a bacterium that is thought to trigger inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

In his book, Fiber Fueled, Dr. Will Bulsiewicz cited the study as evidence to avoid carbohydrate restriction, saying, “This is concerning, considering that in less than five days this diet sets the stage for the development of Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis.”

He points out that losing weight and getting in shape doesn’t necessarily mean you’re healthy — you can be “sick” inside your body. Short-term gains bring long-term pain. Do you know what the average life span of a professional bodybuilder is? Only 47 years. Losing weight doesn’t always improve your health.

Still, the authors of the Human Microbiome review note that the effects of a ketogenic diet on the gut need further investigation. They state: “The most interesting and perhaps controversial finding is that alpha-diversity was not significantly altered in either group…Alpha-diversity is often used as evidence that animal-based diets are harmful, but this definition is far from conclusive.”

The choice to live

Ms. Gannett agrees that weight loss does not equal health. However, she supports restricting carbohydrates when done correctly — a personal choice.

A former world champion extreme skier, she had tests in 2013 that showed her gut microbiome was identical to that of an “overweight, sedentary woman with diabetes” who had just been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor and was given a life expectancy of just over six months.