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A 3-Week Ketogenic Diet Increases Global Cerebral Blood Flow and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Luong TV, Hansen KV, Hansen AK, Cunnane SC, Møller N, Møller N, Søndergaard E, Gormsen LC et al.. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2025-11-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Context The beneficial effects of a ketogenic diet (KD) on neurodegenerative conditions such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer disease (AD) are increasingly acknowledged, with potential implications for the general population as well. Objective Thus, our study aimed to explore the effect of a KD on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in healthy individuals. We hypothesized that a KD would increase CBF and BDNF, thereby presenting itself as an approach to prevent cognitive decline. Methods In total, 11 cognitively healthy individuals with overweight participated in a randomized, crossover trial consisting of 2 different 3-week interventions: (i) a KD; and (ii) a standard diet (SDD). Each diet period concluded with a positron emission tomography (PET) study day, accompanied by a separate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Blood samples were collected prior to the PET scan to measure β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) and BDNF levels. CBF was assessed using a [15O]H2O PET scan co-registered with an MRI scan. Results A KD led to increased basal plasma β-OHB levels compared to the SDD (647 [418-724] vs 50 [50-60] μmol/L, P Conclusion Implementing a KD improved CBF and raised BDNF levels in cognitively healthy individuals, indicating that a KD should be assessed for as a potential treatment for conditions associated with reduced CBF.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Luong, T. V., Hansen, K. V., Hansen, A. K., Cunnane, S. C., Møller, N., Søndergaard, E., et al. (2025). A 3-Week Ketogenic Diet Increases Global Cerebral Blood Flow and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaf207
Vancouver
Luong TV, Hansen KV, Hansen AK, Cunnane SC, Møller N, Søndergaard E, et al. A 3-Week Ketogenic Diet Increases Global Cerebral Blood Flow and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. 2025. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaf207. PMID: 40172923.
BibTeX
@article{luong2025-40172923,
author = {Luong, T. V. and Hansen, K. V. and Hansen, A. K. and Cunnane, S. C. and Møller, N. and Søndergaard, E. and Gormsen, L. C. and others},
title = {{A 3-Week Ketogenic Diet Increases Global Cerebral Blood Flow and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor}},
journal = {The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1210/clinem/dgaf207},
pmid = {40172923},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaf207}
}
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Key findings
- Each diet period concluded with a positron emission tomography (PET) study day, accompanied by a separate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
- Results A KD led to increased basal plasma β-OHB levels compared to the SDD (647 [418-724] vs 50 [50-60] μmol/L, P < .05), increased CBF by 22% (P = .02), and elevated BDNF levels by 47% (P = .04).
Why it matters
In 11 cognitively healthy people with overweight, a 3-week ketogenic diet increased cerebral blood flow and raised BDNF levels. This is a very small, short study in healthy people, so it does not show whether a ketogenic diet prevents or treats Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 57/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for sample size and effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism: journal h-index 490 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (pubmed indexes it as a clinical or observational study) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 8 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 8 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Mads Vandsted Svart: h-index 17 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Aarhus University: institution h-index 976 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40172923) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 57 / 100 | — |
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