A ketogenic diet has proven significantly more effective at reducing blood pressure in women with hypertension compared to intermittent fasting or unrestricted diets, according to a new study.
Research from the University of Rome Sapienza, discovered that 22.2 per cent of patients on the ketogenic diet were able to stop taking blood pressure medication entirely.
The trial involved women aged 50 to 65 with a BMI of at least 25 and diagnosed with essential hypertension.
The ketogenic diet group consumed just 600 to 800 calories daily, with less than 30g of carbohydrates and strict protein and fat limits.
According to the NHS’s Cambridge University Hospitals, this diet is an "unnatural and medically supervised" eating pattern very low in carbohydrates and high in fat.
A second group followed intermittent fasting with Mediterranean-style meals between noon and 8pm, whilst a third group had no restrictions.
At six months, the ketogenic diet group achieved significantly lower blood pressure readings of 118/73 mmHg compared to 128/83 mmHg for intermittent fasting and 137/90 mmHg for the unrestricted diet group.
The number of blood pressure medications used by the ketogenic group dropped from 1.72 to 1.22 per person, while other groups showed no change in medication use.
The ketogenic diet group achieved a remarkable 12.66 per cent total body weight loss, compared to 5.58 per cent for intermittent fasting and 1.32 per cent for unrestricted diets.
Body fat reduction was similarly impressive at 8.62 per cent for the ketogenic group versus 3.34 per cent and 0.26 per cent respectively.
"Given the critical role of diet in managing and potentially preventing cardiovascular diseases, further rigorous randomized controlled trials on broader populations are recommended," researchers wrote.
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The findings demonstrate that a very low-calorie ketogenic diet offers superior health benefits compared to other dietary approaches.
"A very-low-calorie ketogenic diet may promote a significant down-titration of antihypertensive drug therapies," noted Professor Giuliano Tocci and colleagues from the University of Rome Sapienza.
They noted that the findings highlight its potential role in non-pharmacological hypertension management.
Patients are advised to consult a doctor before following a diet that involves strict calorie restriction.
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