The effect of ketogenic diet on adipokines levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials

Considering the impact of adipokines on metabolic syndrome-related disorders and even chronic illnesses, it would appear vital to look for efficient treatments for these variables. The goal of this study was to thoroughly examine how the ketogenic diet (KD) affects adipokines.

Using standard keywords, the databases Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Embase were searched to find all controlled trials looking into how KD affected adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, and ghrelin). By using a random-effects model analysis, pooled weighted mean difference and 95% confidence intervals were obtained.

This article featured twenty-two studies. The combined results demonstrated that, as compared to the control group, leptin levels in all populations are significantly lower when KD is adhered to (WMD: − 0.14 ng/ml, 95% CI: − 8.66, − 3.61, P < 0.001). On the other hand, no discernible impact of this diet on ghrelin and adiponectin concentrations was noted. The subgroup analysis results demonstrated that the drop in leptin levels was considerably higher in persons with BMI > 30 kg/m² and in trials that followed the KD for ≤ 8 weeks than in the other groups.

Generally speaking, this diet can be utilized as a potentially helpful supplementary therapy to improve this adipokine, given the significance that leptin plays on numerous metabolic illnesses.