"Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diets with Whey, Vegetable, or Animal Protein in Patients with Obesity" (Basciani et al., 2020) + References

Dr. Lee Now the fourth paper. This is a fascinating study comparing plant-based and animal-based ketogenic diets. The same caloric intake was provided to 48 people for 45 days. The 48 participants were randomly assigned in groups of 16 to three groups. The three groups received whey protein, plant protein, and animal protein, respectively. The daily diet provided 780 kilocalories. Carbohydrates were 26 g (13.5%); lipids were 40.4%, including 20 g of olive oil; protein was 90 g (46.1%). Emily, can you tell us the keto ratio?

Emily Lipids were 40.4%, and the remaining carbohydrates plus protein total 59.6%. 40.4 divided by 59.6 is 0.67.

Dr. Lee Good. The plant-protein group obtained protein from vegetables, mung beans, soybeans, and so on. The animal-protein group obtained protein from meat, fish, and eggs. In all three groups, arm circumference, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides all decreased. Diastolic and systolic blood pressure also decreased in all groups. For the plant-based ketogenic diet, systolic BP fell from 131 to 121 mmHg, and diastolic BP from 78 to 72 mmHg. For the animal-based, systolic BP fell from 129 to 121 mmHg, and diastolic BP from 78 to 71 mmHg. For whey, systolic BP fell from 132 to 124 mmHg, and diastolic BP from 78 to 70 mmHg. So the ketogenic diet lowered blood pressure regardless of protein source.