Study finds Keto Diet can help combat the flu virus

A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet like the Keto regimen has its fans, but influenza apparently isn’t one of them.

In a recent Yale University laboratory study, mice fed a ketogenic diet were better able to combat the flu virus than those fed food high in carbohydrates.

A ketogenic diet focuses on eliminating carbohydrates and replacing them with healthy fats. It includes meat, fish, poultry, and many vegetables, primarily greens and high-fiber vegetables. Because it is low-carb, starchy vegetables such as potatoes, yams, rice, etc., are prohibited.

As per an article in Scientific Daily, “Ketogenic diet helps tame flu virus“, the diet activates a subset of T cells in the lungs that were not previously associated with the immune system’s response to influenza, in turn, enhances mucus reproduction from airway cells that can effectively trap the virus.

According to the Science Daily article, research has found that immune system activators called inflammasomes can cause harmful immune system responses in their hosts and that the ketogenic diet blocks the formation of inflammasomes.

The study tested mice that were fed a ketogenic diet and infected with the influenza virus. These mice had a higher survival rate than mice on a high-carb or normal diet. They found that the mice fed the ketogenic diet triggered the release of gamma delta T cells, immune system cells that produce mucus in the cell linings of the lungs, while the mice on the high-carb alternative diets did not.

The findings concluded, “This study shows that the way the body burns fat to produce ketone bodies from the food we eat can fuel the immune system to fight flu infection,” Dixit, the head researcher, had said.

Can the Keto Diet Keto Diet can help combat the flu virus?

A study showed mice were protected from influenza by a diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates.

Recent research indicates that the popular ketogenic diet could help to prevent influenza.

The Yale University study, published in the journal Science Immunology on November 15, researchers found that the ketogenic diet fed to mice with high fat and moderate protein could better fight the flu than mice that were given high carbohydrate foods.

In a press release, Vishwa Deep Dixit, PhD, professor of comparative immunology and medicine at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, and doctor of veterinary science, said that this study showed how the body’s ability to burn fat and produce ketone bodies from food can help fuel the immune system in fighting flu.

How the Keto Diet Works

Carbohydrate Restriction: The central principle of the keto diet is to drastically reduce carbohydrate intake—typically to less than 50 grams per day, or about 5-10% of your total daily caloric intake. This shift requires reducing foods like bread, pasta, sugar, and even fruits and certain vegetables.

Entering Ketosis: By significantly lowering your carbohydrate consumption, your body is forced to look for an alternative fuel source. After a few days, this carbohydrate restriction puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis. In ketosis, the body becomes incredibly efficient at burning fat for energy instead of glucose.

Fat as Fuel: With the body in ketosis, fat is broken down in the liver into fatty acids and ketone bodies. Ketone bodies become the primary energy source for many cells in the body, particularly the brain. This metabolic state can lead to a reduction in insulin levels and increased fat burning.

Protein Intake: Protein is consumed in moderate amounts on the keto diet to help maintain muscle mass. However, it’s important not to consume too much protein, as excess protein can be converted into glucose through gluconeogenesis, potentially hindering the maintenance of ketosis.

Health Benefits: Proponents of the keto diet claim it can help with weight loss, improve energy levels, and assist in controlling blood sugar levels, among other benefits. Some research suggests that the diet may benefit certain neurological disorders and metabolic diseases, but more long-term studies are needed to fully understand its effects.

Potential Challenges and Considerations: While the keto diet can benefit some, it’s not suitable for everyone. Potential challenges include nutrient deficiencies if not carefully managed and side effects often referred to as the “keto flu,” which can include headaches, fatigue, and nausea during the initial transition into ketosis. It’s also important to consider the diet’s impact on cholesterol levels and heart health, particularly with high consumption of saturated fats.

Before starting any new diet, especially one as specific as the ketogenic diet, it’s crucial to consult with healthcare professionals to ensure it’s a safe and suitable choice for your individual health needs.

It has been demonstrated that this type of eating plan helps maintain blood glucose levels for people with type 2 diabetics. has also shown, such as in a study published in Federal Practitioner in February 2017 that a ketogenic diet can improve the tumor response of cancer patients.

In 2017, , another research from the University of California, Davis, showed that mice eating a diet high in fat lived 13 percent longer than mice eating a diet high in carbs.

Understanding Keto’s Influence on Flu Virus

In their latest study, Dr. Dixit’s collaborators found that the ketogenic dietary regimen prevented the formation of immune system activators called inflammasomes. These can trigger harmful immune responses.

Scientists could see this reaction and decided to test the effect of diet on the virus.

Researchers fed a group of influenza-infected mice a low-carbohydrate keto diet containing less than 1 percent carbohydrates. A second group of infected mice received a standard 58 percent carb diet.

The high-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet did not stimulate the release of gamma Delta T cells. These immune system cells produce sputum within the linings of lung cells. Researchers have found that an increase in mucus can help eliminate the virus.

Researchers also found that the Keto diet did not provide any protection against the influenza virus for mice specifically bred to lack these gamma Delta T cells. These cells are crucial in fighting the flu.

We don’t know why gamma-delta T cells are activated when the ketogenic diet is consumed, but we will continue to pursue this in the future,” said Emily Goldberg, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at Yale School of Medicine who was involved with the research.

Jan Rystrom, RD is a certified diabetes instructor at the Swedish Medical Center, Seattle. She was not involved with the Yale study. This could be what the low carb diet targets.

Some dietitians and medical experts also believe that a diet low in carbohydrates can weaken the immune system. Lack of carbohydrates can lead to fatigue and weaker health. A ketogenic diet may also be detrimental to the microbiome, which is vital to overall health.

Rystrom points out the many variations of ketogenic diets and that those that promote a healthy gut microbiota are likely to be more “plant-forward.”

Dr. Goldberg says that, “generally speaking, the immune system requires increased glucose consumption to mount an efficient immune response against infections.” It’s important to remember that glucose is still available, although very limited, during a Keto diet.

The Flu Shot is still the best protection.

Rystrom says that although the Yale study shows that nutritional ketosis is anti-inflammatory, it would “certainly not be the first line treatment” for flu.

William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, has not seen any significant data linking diet with influenza protection.

Dr. Schaffner says, “It is an interesting study.” If we learn more about how our bodies fight the flu, we will better understand how to treat influenza or even prevent it.

He points out that some studies have shown that obesity can weaken the flu vaccine response. This could be an indicator of how diet may affect flu protection.

However, human research is required to confirm that the ketogenic diet effectively protects against flu.

“Mice are not the equivalent of people.” Len Horovitz, MD, a lung specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City, says that between 30,000 and 40,000 Americans die each year due to influenza. There’s no better way to protect yourself than with an influenza shot!

Sources:

Science Daily, “Ketogenic diet helps tame flu virus”, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191115190327.htm, November 15, 2019 – as sourced by Yale University.

See also: Easy Ways to Improve Your Gut Health, What is the Keto Diet and What Makes It a Lifestyle?