A small Ohio State study found that students with major depressive disorder saw dramatic improvements in mood, well-being and cognition after 10 weeks on a well-formulated keto diet, pointing to nutrition’s potential role in mental health care
A ketogenic diet may do more than fuel weight loss. New research suggests it could also help college students manage major depressive disorder (MDD).
In a pilot study published this month in Translational Psychiatry, researchers at The Ohio State University tested whether a low-carbohydrate, well-formulated ketogenic diet could serve as an adjunct to counseling and/or medication for students diagnosed with MDD.
Sixteen OSU students, who were receiving medication, counseling or both before beginning, completed the 10 to 12-week program. The intervention combined partial food provision, personalized dietary coaching and daily blood ketone tracking. Participants achieved nutritional ketosis 73% of the time while following a diet of fewer than 50 grams of carbohydrates per day with higher fat and moderate protein intake.
Students were provided 10 starter meals, snacks and ongoing guidance during the first half of the trial and communicated with researchers throughout via a private app.
The results were notable: self-reported depressive symptoms measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 decreased 69%, while clinician-rated scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression fell 71% by weeks 10–12. Improvements were evident within two to six weeks and persisted through the program. Global well-being scores nearly tripled by the end.
The study comes at a time when stress, anxiety and depression are consistently cited as the most significant barriers to academic success for U.S. college students, according to co-author Ryan Patel, DO, a psychiatrist at Ohio State’s Office of Student Life Counseling and Consultation Service. He told Ohio State News that about 40% of college students report depression symptoms, yet only about half are receiving treatment.
“We have a treatment gap in that we have more students suffering from mental health concerns than can feasibly receive professional treatment,” Patel told the publication. “There is a need for finding ways of helping students on a large scale. And nutrition is one way we can do that.”
Physical and metabolic changes mirrored the mood improvements. On average, students lost 11 pounds, and their body fat percentage dropped by 2.4%. Participants also posted gains in memory and processing speed, with a trend toward improved executive function. The authors noted no significant changes in cholesterol or triglycerides.
The researchers concluded that implementing a ketogenic diet for 10 to 12 weeks may be associated with meaningful improvements in mood, well-being, body composition and cognition.
Not every participant stayed the course. Of the 24 students who enrolled, eight dropped out, with seven citing reasons unrelated to the diet. Two reported mild headaches and muscle cramps in the first week that resolved with electrolyte support.
The study was small and lacked a control group, meaning the findings should be viewed as preliminary. The authors caution that more research is needed to determine whether benefits are sustained long-term and whether they apply beyond a college population. Still, the results add weight to a growing field known as “metabolic psychiatry,” which explores how diet and metabolism influence mental health.
Beyond the encouraging findings, campuses are rethinking how to support student well-being more broadly, especially as Gen Z prioritizes mental health. Colleges like Moravian University, the University of Pittsburgh, Marquette and the University of San Diego are investing in expansive wellness hubs that combine counseling, recreation and community spaces with features such as nap pods, telehealth booths and outdoor functional training areas.
For its part, OSU has built out a comprehensive wellness center with services that extend well beyond traditional counseling. Students can access alcohol and drug prevention programs, a Collegiate Recovery Community, relationship education and violence prevention resources, along with supports such as nutrition coaching, financial coaching and wellness coaching. The center also offers group fitness classes and other events focused on connection.
