New Study Warns of Hidden Metabolic Risks Linked to Long-Term Keto Diet
A new study from the University of Utah Health offers a fresh look at how the keto diet affects the body over time. The findings show helpful short-term changes, yet they also reveal unexpected risks that build slowly. As a result, the research encourages people to think carefully before following keto for long periods.
How Keto Affects the Body Over Time
The keto diet pushes the body into ketosis. In this state, you burn fat for energy instead of sugar. Many people use it for weight loss or better blood sugar control. However, most earlier studies focused only on short-term benefits.The new study followed mice on different diets for nine months. Researchers tracked body weight, liver health, and insulin activity. They also examined how certain cells handled fats and sugars.The mice on keto avoided major weight gain. In addition, they showed lower body fat compared to those on a Western diet. However, these benefits came with important trade-offs.
Risks Include Fatty Liver and Blood Sugar Problems
The study found that long-term keto can overload the liver with fat. Male mice developed severe fatty liver disease, while females did not. The team plans to study this difference in future research.Blood sugar control also changed over time. At first, mice had low sugar and insulin levels. However, when given small amounts of carbohydrates later, their blood sugar spiked sharply. This happened because stressed pancreatic cells produced too little insulin.The good news is that these problems improved when the mice stopped the diet. Therefore, some effects may be reversible.Experts recommend speaking with a health professional before trying keto long term.
