Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 17: The ketogenic (keto) diet has gained immense popularity for quick weight loss, better blood sugar control and improved energy levels. While many people follow it as a long-term lifestyle, a striking new study from University of Utah Health is raising serious concerns. According to researchers, extended use of a very-high-fat, very-low-carb diet may trigger significant metabolic risks. In lab mice, months of strict keto feeding led to fatty liver disease, impaired insulin response and signs of organ stress — warning that long-term keto may not be as safe as widely believed.
The study, published in Science Advances, observed that male mice developed fatty liver as fat accumulated in liver cells — an early marker of liver disease. After fasting, the mice showed unusually low glucose and insulin levels, but even a small carbohydrate dose caused sharp, sustained blood sugar spikes. Researchers also found pancreatic stress, as insulin-producing beta cells struggled to process proteins and secrete insulin efficiently. Some damage reversed once the mice were taken off the diet, suggesting partial recovery is possible, but the long-term safety of chronic keto remains uncertain.
The findings raise an important question: while keto appears effective in short-term human trials, what happens when it is followed for years?
Medical literature has already pointed to several risks of prolonged keto. High-fat diets may elevate blood lipids, increasing cardiovascular risk, and fat buildup in the liver can lead to dysfunction. Keto may also raise the risk of kidney stones due to urine chemistry changes and cause deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals because of severe carb restriction. Some studies even suggest high-fat diets contribute to senescent cell buildup in organs like the heart and kidneys, increasing inflammation and tissue damage. Short-term side effects—often called “keto flu”—include headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, constipation and dehydration.
The new findings are significant because most human research has focused on short-term effects. The Utah study suggests that chronic keto may stress major metabolic organs like the liver and pancreas, even when weight loss appears successful. At the same time, the partial reversibility observed in mice offers a hopeful signal, emphasizing the need for medical supervision and periodic re-evaluation for long-term keto users.
Those at higher risk may include people staying on keto for years, individuals with underlying fatty liver or metabolic issues, those following unbalanced versions of the diet with excessive saturated fat, and people not monitored by healthcare professionals.
Experts advise caution: consult a medical professional before starting keto, avoid extreme versions of the diet, limit the duration or consider cycling the diet, monitor liver function, lipid levels, kidney health and glucose control, and ensure proper nutrition with vegetables and supplements when needed. If signs of metabolic stress appear, adjusting or stopping the diet may be necessary.
Not all studies point to harm — a 24-week human study in obese patients showed improved weight, triglycerides, LDL and glucose without major side effects. This suggests the risks may depend on factors like duration, diet composition and individual health status.
Still, the new findings from University of Utah Health remind us that an extreme diet, no matter how promising in the short term, can carry long-term trade-offs. While keto may offer rapid results, prolonged and unmanaged use could strain the liver, disrupt blood sugar regulation and overstress vital organs. For anyone considering long-term keto, medical guidance, regular monitoring and balanced nutrition are essential to safeguard long-term health.