Could a High-Fat diet help stabilize the brain in mental illness?
NCT ID NCT05268809
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether a very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet could improve brain network stability and thinking skills in people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The diet is high in fat and low in carbs, which makes the body produce ketones that may provide extra energy to the brain. Seventy-one participants followed either the ketogenic diet or their usual diet for four weeks, and researchers measured changes in brain scans, body composition, inflammation, and insulin resistance.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
ketogenic diet
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a dietary approach to improve cognitive function and brain stability in people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage study with only 71 participants. The diet is hard to follow long-term, and results may not apply to everyone. It does not replace standard medication.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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San Francisco VA Medical Center
San Francisco, California, 94121, United States