Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab March 2014 PMID 24398402

Long-term ketogenic diet causes glucose intolerance and reduced β- and α-cell mass but no weight loss in mice.

Johanne H Ellenbroek, Laura van Dijck, Hendrica A Töns, Ton J Rabelink, Françoise Carlotti, Bart E P B Ballieux, Eelco J P de Koning

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Mentions

63
Peak: 5 in Feb 2023
across 6 sources since Mar 2019

Extended reach

390,936
potential audience

Total likes

8,758

Video views

322,137

Mentions per month

Mar 2019 – Jul 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter27 posts
  • Facebook22 posts
  • YouTube6 videos
  • News4 articles
  • Reddit2 posts
  • Blogs2 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Several posts highlight concerns about the long-term health implications of keto diets, such as decreased insulin production and pancreatic cell mass, exemplified by comments like 'Keto causes low β- and α-cell mass' and calls for clarification on clinical evidence. The tone varies from cautious critique to supportive, with some posts questioning the validity of ketogenic foods marketed as 'healthy,' emphasizing a critical stance that underscores the scientific importance of the findings.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the findings or express concern, with some posts explicitly supporting the study's conclusions about negative long-term effects of keto diets on pancreatic function and metabolic health.

InterestHigh interest

Posts demonstrate high curiosity, as users respond to the research with questions, critiques, and calls for expert opinions, showing they find the topic highly relevant.

EngagementHigh engagement

Many participants delve into detailed analyses, referencing specific aspects like insulin, alpha- and beta-cell mass, and long-term health risks, indicating deep engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

While some posts imply the study could influence opinions or dietary choices, overall the perceived impact remains moderate due to skepticism and the request for further evidence.

Abstract in brief

  • Longterm ketogenic diets in mice lead to glucose intolerance, reduced pancreatic cell mass, and signs of metabolic issues like dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis, despite initial weight loss.
  • The study found that after 22 weeks, mice on a longterm KD showed decreased insulin secretion, impaired glucose uptake, and an increase in smaller, less functional islets, indicating compromised pancreatic function.
  • These findings suggest that, over time, high-fat low-carbohydrate KD may mimic features of metabolic syndrome and raise risks for type 2 diabetes, without promoting sustained weight loss.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Zweil
@somethings_awry · X

This is why I'll ALWAYS discourage long term keto. To compensate being low on glucose and adapt to utilizing ketones, my body down regulated insulin production. Use it or lose it. Keto causes low β- and α-cell mass along with a whole host of other issues. https://t.co/GBjFVVjkqI

Jul 22, 2025 · 41 likes · 1 share · 5,818 followers View post →
やまだ@腸活×アンチエイジング
@tarou_ymd_ · X

ケトジェニックダイエットの注意点について知っていますか?果物や穀物から得られる有益な食物繊維やポリフェノールの不足です!

Feb 9, 2023 · 29 likes · 4 shares · 6,290 followers View post →
Mauricio Londoño R.
@LondonoMd · X

De donde salio el sustento serio para llamar a un alimento "Keto"? .De los mismos creadores de alimentos "funcionales"?.En que momento una dieta que nació como ayuda en epilepsia se volvió sinónimo de postres para bajar de peso? https://t.co/XaFi2jWFn5

Jun 30, 2022 · 6 likes · 1 share · 9,582 followers View post →
LINDYFIT
@LindyFit · X

@AncestorAligned https://t.co/rzn1eTprOz

Feb 7, 2022 · 3 likes · 9,352 followers View post →
Zed
@zz_2141 · X

@MurseDarius @gatordadsteve @dr_ericberg @Pl4ntbased @MichaelMindrum @NutritionMadeS3 @realDaveFeldman You may also need to know that long term KD reduces beta cell function in mice and this may be one of the reasons for your blunted insulin response. https://t.co/kOKKRbyebB

Jun 5, 2025 · 3 likes · 107 followers View post →
Suzi Gerber, PhD
@ChefSuziGerber · X

@findinSilver @erreyedoc @DrNadolsky There are many studies on IF without other dietary intervention. Would be worth looking into. Long term #keto studies here- https://t.co/plJgeuFNLS https://t.co/HkZZLPm7hJ https://t.co/PsIdgRJ0SR

Nov 15, 2021 · 1 like · 1,090 followers View post →

All mentions

2shoes (yt)_INCINERATE ytness_
@_Old2shoes · X

RT @somethings_awry: This is why I'll ALWAYS discourage long term keto. To compensate being low on glucose and adapt to utilizing ketones,…

Jul 22, 2025 · 1 share · 101 followers View post →
Zweil
@somethings_awry · X

This is why I'll ALWAYS discourage long term keto. To compensate being low on glucose and adapt to utilizing ketones, my body down regulated insulin production. Use it or lose it. Keto causes low β- and α-cell mass along with a whole host of other issues. https://t.co/GBjFVVjkqI

Jul 22, 2025 · 41 likes · 1 share · 5,818 followers View post →
Zed
@zz_2141 · X

@MurseDarius @gatordadsteve @dr_ericberg @Pl4ntbased @MichaelMindrum @NutritionMadeS3 @realDaveFeldman You may also need to know that long term KD reduces beta cell function in mice and this may be one of the reasons for your blunted insulin response. https://t.co/kOKKRbyebB

Jun 5, 2025 · 3 likes · 107 followers View post →
Your Name Here
@wzpatman · X

@HannahDCox https://t.co/tm431Meiyl Or maybe there's actual research and overly simple answers like "carbs = bad" don't fix the issue in the long term.

Oct 6, 2024 · 1 like · 371 followers View post →
Metabolic Uncle
@MetabolicUncle · X

@carnivore_jt @TempleDietitian https://t.co/crkBaua1lN

May 2, 2024 · 10,344 followers View post →
土佐犬♡도사켄
@tosaone · X

RT @tarou_ymd_: ケトジェニックダイエットの注意点について知っていますか?果物や穀物から得られる有益な食物繊維やポリフェノールの不足です!

Feb 19, 2023 · 4 shares · 139 followers View post →
まき@食欲コントロールダイエット
@dietsupport_m · X

RT @tarou_ymd_: ケトジェニックダイエットの注意点について知っていますか?果物や穀物から得られる有益な食物繊維やポリフェノールの不足です!

Feb 12, 2023 · 4 shares · 178 followers View post →
ここ@心理学ダイエットコーチ/美しさは健康から
@wellbeingdieter · X

RT @tarou_ymd_: ケトジェニックダイエットの注意点について知っていますか?果物や穀物から得られる有益な食物繊維やポリフェノールの不足です!

Feb 9, 2023 · 4 shares · 883 followers View post →
まさや | 休止中
@masaya_cvs · X

RT @tarou_ymd_: ケトジェニックダイエットの注意点について知っていますか?果物や穀物から得られる有益な食物繊維やポリフェノールの不足です!

Feb 9, 2023 · 4 shares · 2,279 followers View post →
やまだ@腸活×アンチエイジング
@tarou_ymd_ · X

ケトジェニックダイエットの注意点について知っていますか?果物や穀物から得られる有益な食物繊維やポリフェノールの不足です!

Feb 9, 2023 · 29 likes · 4 shares · 6,290 followers View post →
Rich Collins
@richcollins · X

@JohnCaseIII @MacroFour https://t.co/OKOP4GZnvi

Aug 6, 2022 · 2,071 followers View post →
viviendo sabroso
@macpediatra · X

RT @LondonoMd: De donde salio el sustento serio para llamar a un alimento "Keto"? .De los mismos creadores de alimentos "funcionales"?.En q…

Jul 1, 2022 · 1 share · 1,566 followers View post →
Mauricio Londoño R.
@LondonoMd · X

De donde salio el sustento serio para llamar a un alimento "Keto"? .De los mismos creadores de alimentos "funcionales"?.En que momento una dieta que nació como ayuda en epilepsia se volvió sinónimo de postres para bajar de peso? https://t.co/XaFi2jWFn5

Jun 30, 2022 · 6 likes · 1 share · 9,582 followers View post →
LINDYFIT
@LindyFit · X

@AncestorAligned https://t.co/rzn1eTprOz

Feb 7, 2022 · 3 likes · 9,352 followers View post →
Pogiwog
@pogiwog · X

@MofoKang @UncreatdSkeptic @RedbananaTH @Matt_Dillahunty This indicates that long-term high-fat, low-carbohydrate KD lead to features that are also associated with the metabolic syndrome and an increased risk for type 2 diabetes in humans. https://t.co/zFwD6QlZSy

Dec 24, 2021 · 57 followers View post →
Suzi Gerber, PhD
@ChefSuziGerber · X

@findinSilver @erreyedoc @DrNadolsky There are many studies on IF without other dietary intervention. Would be worth looking into. Long term #keto studies here- https://t.co/plJgeuFNLS https://t.co/HkZZLPm7hJ https://t.co/PsIdgRJ0SR

Nov 15, 2021 · 1 like · 1,090 followers View post →
Ritu Doshi
@RituDoshi13 · X

@happyselvan @themanalivora @EduMinOfIndia https://t.co/1QLI4YEyTm

Aug 16, 2021 · 33 followers View post →
Gerrit Keferstein
@performance_doc · X

@DiscoStew66 Here : https://t.co/sQ0G2kAjYx And here : https://t.co/GRvkTc2kwj

May 20, 2021 · 445 followers View post →
Gödel's Incomplete LINK sack
@HgHaberdasher · X

@KetoHiking @Poffertjee @RektMoranis It can still cause problems for healthy livers. And monitoring and when and if necessary: adjusting is critical in young, still growing patients with complicated or weekend health conditions to begin with. https://t.co/2KFsWI9NgK

Mar 14, 2021 · 45 followers View post →
Reijo Laatikainen
@Reijo_RD_FIN · X

@Dr__Guess OK, that is clarifying. That theory begs clinical long-term evidence :). Any? Those adaptations should be quite dramatic to offset the reduction of 100-200 g carbs/d, don’t you think? You are probably thinking of pre-clinical evidence? https://t.co/YZDYvc2JeB

Jan 17, 2021 · 4,610 followers View post →
Nicholas Tidemann
@NicholasTidem · X

@kevinnbass From animal studies, there seem to be chronic problems rather than benefits. Mice on long-term ketogenic diets develop diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hepatic steatosis over the course of 5-6 months: https://t.co/6shBl63n7g Ketogenic diets only mimic the health benefits of fasting.

Aug 21, 2020 · 13 followers View post →
George D. Henderson
@puddleg · X

RT @PreKureOfficial: In this ketogenic diet mouse study, alpha-cell mass decreased even more significantly than beta-cell mass, consistent…

Oct 31, 2019 · 1 share · 7,377 followers View post →
PREKURE
@PREKUREOfficial · X

In this ketogenic diet mouse study, alpha-cell mass decreased even more significantly than beta-cell mass, consistent with a lowered glucagon level. https://t.co/fEG8kOCcfR

Oct 31, 2019 · 1 share · 642 followers View post →
Amanda ZZ - Atkins
@AmandaZZ100 · X

RT @texas_nancy: Would like to see a response from some of the keto experts on this study, https://t.co/GfLgsSArxq

Aug 31, 2019 · 1 share · 4,728 followers View post →
Nancy Hammes
@texas_nancy · X

@FatEmperor Have you looked at this study? As a committed keto/low-carb advocate, I am disturbed. https://t.co/GfLgsSArxq

Jun 9, 2019 · 29 followers View post →
Nancy Hammes
@texas_nancy · X

Would like to see a response from some of the keto experts on this study, https://t.co/GfLgsSArxq

Jun 9, 2019 · 1 share · 29 followers View post →
KetoAndMe
@KetoAndMe · X

Long-term #ketogenic diet causes glucose intolerance, THE OTHER TERM FOR WHAT I CALL HUMAN FOOD INTOLERANCE #keto #ketogenicdiet #lchf #potatodiet #zerofat #nofat #weightloss #keto Read here: https://t.co/tYLkiWT4yJ https://t.co/BSQkTzwZ8C

Mar 8, 2019 · 1 share · 563 followers View post →