A new study has found that following a ketogenic diet for at least 10 weeks may lead to a major drop in depression symptoms among college students.
In the study, students with diagnosed major depressive disorder who followed a strict keto diet saw a 70% decrease in their depression symptoms.
They also reported feeling much better overall and performed better on thinking and memory tests. All but one student lost weight as well.
The small trial included 16 college students from Ohio State University. Before starting the diet, they were already getting treatment for depression through therapy, medication, or both.
The researchers say these results are promising and suggest the keto diet could be used alongside other treatments for depression. They plan to test the idea in a larger clinical trial in the future.
The study did not include a control group for comparison, which is a limitation. But previous studies show that therapy or medication alone usually improves depression by about 50% in the same amount of time. So, a 70% improvement from diet alone is notable.
The research was led by Jeff Volek, a professor of human sciences at Ohio State, and published in the journal Translational Psychiatry. His team partnered with university mental health experts to design a safe and supportive study for students.
In the U.S., stress, anxiety, and depression are common among college students. Around 40% report having symptoms of depression, but not all can get treatment. The study’s co-author, Dr. Ryan Patel, said nutrition could be one of the tools used to help students on a large scale.
The 16 students who completed the study—10 women and 6 men, with an average age of 24—were guided through a strict ketogenic diet. They ate fewer than 50 grams of carbs per day, with moderate protein and higher fat intake. This type of diet puts the body into “nutritional ketosis,” where it burns fat for fuel instead of sugar.
To help students stick to the diet, the team gave each person meal advice based on their food preferences. They also provided 10 prepared meals, snacks, regular check-ins, and access to a private app for support. Students were told to eat only when they were hungry and stop when full, with no calorie counting required.
Throughout the 10–12 weeks, the students tracked their depression symptoms and sense of well-being using standard clinical tools. They also took cognitive tests to measure memory, attention, and mental speed. Clinical psychologists carefully monitored their progress.
The results showed that:
Ketosis was achieved 73% of the time, showing good diet adherence.
Self-reported depression symptoms dropped by 69% by the end of the study.
Clinician-rated symptoms fell by 71% by week 10–12.
Well-being scores nearly tripled.
Students lost an average of 11 pounds and body fat dropped by 2.4%.
Most cognitive scores improved.
No significant changes were seen in cholesterol or triglycerides.
Dr. Patel noted that the level of improvement seen with the keto diet was even better than that of traditional depression treatments. All students improved, and none needed extra treatment or emergency care.
The study’s lead author, Drew Decker, said tailoring the diet to each person’s needs played a big role in helping them succeed. The researchers also collected biological data, including markers related to inflammation and brain function, which may help explain how the diet works.
This was a pilot study to test whether a ketogenic diet could be used as a helpful addition to other treatments for depression. While more research is needed, the team believes the results are exciting and worth exploring further.
If you care about health, please read studies that scientists find a core feature of depression and this metal in the brain strongly linked to depression.
For more health information, please see recent studies about drug for mental health that may harm the brain, and results showing this therapy more effective than ketamine in treating severe depression.
The study is published in Neurotherapeutics.
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