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Review
. 2023 Jul 28;15(15):3368.
doi: 10.3390/nu15153368.

The Ketogenic Diet and Cardiovascular Diseases

Damian Dyńka  1 , Katarzyna Kowalcze  1 , Anna Charuta  1 , Agnieszka Paziewska  1
Affiliations
Review

The Ketogenic Diet and Cardiovascular Diseases

Damian Dyńka et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

The most common and increasing causes of death worldwide are cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Taking into account the fact that diet is a key factor, it is worth exploring this aspect of CVD prevention and therapy. The aim of this article is to assess the potential of the ketogenic diet in the prevention and treatment of CVD. The article is a comprehensive, meticulous analysis of the literature in this area, taking into account the most recent studies currently available. The ketogenic diet has been shown to have a multifaceted effect on the prevention and treatment of CVD. Among other aspects, it has a beneficial effect on the blood lipid profile, even compared to other diets. It shows strong anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective potential, which is due, among other factors, to the anti-inflammatory properties of the state of ketosis, the elimination of simple sugars, the restriction of total carbohydrates and the supply of omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, ketone bodies provide "rescue fuel" for the diseased heart by affecting its metabolism. They also have a beneficial effect on the function of the vascular endothelium, including improving its function and inhibiting premature ageing. The ketogenic diet has a beneficial effect on blood pressure and other CVD risk factors through, among other aspects, weight loss. The evidence cited is often superior to that for standard diets, making it likely that the ketogenic diet shows advantages over other dietary models in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. There is a legitimate need for further research in this area.

Keywords: CVD; HDL; KD; LDL; blood pressure; cardiomyocytes; cardiovascular disease; cholesterol; diastolic; diet; endothelium; fatty acids; heart; heart metabolism; high fat; inflammation; ketogenic diet; ketone; ketone bodies; lipid profile; low carb; obesity; prevention; reduction; systolic; treatment; triglyceride; weight loss.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Four main factors influencing the anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective potential of the ketogenic diet. The above figure was created with BioRender.com. Accessed on 23 July 2023 Agreement number: ZI25N6RYI0.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Influence of the ketogenic diet on vascular endothelial cells. The above figure was created with BioRender.com. Accessed on 23 July 2023. Agreement number: ZI25N6S5GU.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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