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. 2022 Oct 20;13:972890. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.972890

Table 3.

Summary of trials evaluating KD effects vs comparative diet in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

Reference Sample description Duration Intervention Ketone test (concentration in KD group) Beneficial effects Side effects of the KD
Hussain TA 2012 (81) n=363 with T2D= 102 Age= 37.2±0.4 yr BMI= 37.3±0.3 kg/m2 HbA1c= 7.9±0.1 % 12 months VLCKD vs low-calorie diet No measure HbA1c
Triglycerides
Total chol.
LDL chol.
↑ HDL chol.
No adverse events reported
Goday A 2016 (82) N=89
Age=54.5±8.4 yr
BMI=33.1±1.6 kg/m2
HbA1c=6.9±1.1 %2
4 months Very low-calorie ketogenic diet vs low-calorie diet Blood β-OHB(1.15±0.96mM) Triglycerides
↓HbA1c
↓HOMA-IR
body weight
Waist circumference
↑ asthenia
↑ headache
↑ nausea
↑ vomiting
↑ constipation
↑ orthostatic hypotension
Saslow LR 2017 (83) N=34 BMI=35.9±3.3 kg/m2 12 months VLCKDvsMCCR Blood β-OHB(values between 0.5-3.0mM) HbA1c
body weight
Diabetes medications
No adverse events reported
Myette-Côté E 2018 (84) N=16
Age=64±8 yr
BMI=34±8 kg/m2
HbA1c=7±1 %
4 days VLCKD vs low-fat low-glycemic index No measure weight loss
Mean glucose
Fasting glucose
No adverse events reported

BMI, body mass index; T2D, type 2 diabetes; β-OHB, β-hydroxybutyrate; VLCKD, very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet; HOMA-IR, Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance; MCCR, moderate-carbohydrate calorie-restricted.

↓, decrease; ↑, increase; ↔ no changes.