Posted on 24 Comments

Do Ketogenic Diets Have a Metabolic Advantage?

Without fail, every decade seems to see the resurgence of the idea that extremely low-carbohydrate/ketogenic diets diets have a “metabolic advantage” over carb-based diets.  By that I mean that advocates claim that more weight/fat will be lost at the same (or even a higher) calorie level.  But is it true?

In examining the issue, I will be looking at the following paper:

Johnston CS et. al. Ketogenic low-carbohydrate diets have no metabolic advantage over nonketogenic low-carbohydrate diets. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (2006) 83: 1055-1061

A Disclaimer about Ketogenic Diets

Before I continue let me say that I have nothing against low-carbohydrate/ketogenic diets.  My first book The Ketogenic Diet was about nothing that topic although nowhere in that book did I specifically recommend them.   At the same time, at least some of my books have included low- or lowered carbohydrate phases in them.  Either those low-carbohydrate phases generate specifically biological effects (i.e.… Keep Reading