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Consuming a diet rich in fats and low in carbohydrates may assist in alleviating the signs ofdepression, a study claims.

Up to one in five adults in the UK have gone through some type of depression at some point in their lives.

According to experts, one in three individuals will not experience complete relief of symptoms from antidepressants.

This group – referred to as having treatment-resistant depression – might benefit from following a ketogenic, or ‘keto’, diet, as per researchers.

The routine pushes the body into a metabolic condition known as ketosis, in which it uses fat as energy rather than carbs.

Some specialists think it could decrease brain inflammation, easing signs of depression.

A 2025 research study indicated that a ketogenic diet decreased signs of depression by up to 70% among university students.

To investigate this phenomenon, a team of scientists from Oxford University selected a group of 88 individuals suffering from depression who did not respond to conventional medication. The participants were randomly placed on either a keto or non-keto diet.

Individuals adhering to the ketogenic diet received three pre-prepared meals along with snacks, all of which contained fewer than 30 grams of carbohydrates daily.

Participants in the non-ketogenic diet group were instructed to maintain their regular eating habits, making minor adjustments like replacing saturated fats with unsaturated ones and incorporating an additional serving of fruits and vegetables daily.

Both groups also maintained their regular medication.

Following six weeks of adhering to the ketogenic diet, individuals experienced a notable decrease in their feelings of depression, according to the study’s findings.

Although the diet was challenging for most participants to continue after the trial ended, lead researcher Dr. Min Gao stated: ‘Our research indicates that adopting a ketogenic diet along with standard treatment may offer minor advantages for depression.’

The ketogenic diet is currently employed to manage seizures, and emerging research is starting to explore its potential application in various mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

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