Remission of OCD and ulcerative colitis with a ketogenic diet: Case Report.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of a personalized ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and metabolic health in an adult patient.
Results Summary
The study found complete remission of OCD, clinical remission of UC, and significant improvements in metabolic health, body composition, and quality of life (flourishing, resilience, self-compassion) within 12 weeks of the ketogenic diet intervention.
Population
A 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis.
Effective Dosage
Personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio).
Duration
12 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) | decrease | obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) | 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis | complete remission | resulting in complete remission | #1 |
personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) | decrease | ulcerative colitis (UC) | 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis | clinical remission | resulting in clinical remission | #2 |
personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) | increase | metabolic health | 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis | - | improved | #3 |
personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) | decrease | ulcerative colitis (UC) | 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis | PMS 0, UC-PRO 0 | clinical remission of UC occurred | #4 |
personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) | increase | obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) | 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis | FOCI 0 at 9 weeks | progressive improvement | #5 |
personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) | decrease | obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) | 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis | Y-BOCS 0, CGI-S 1 at 12 weeks | complete remission | #6 |
personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) | decrease | body weight | 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis | 12.2% | decreased | #7 |
personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) | decrease | percentage of body fat | 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis | - | significant decreases | #8 |
personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) | decrease | visceral fat | 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis | - | significant decreases | #9 |
personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) | increase | flourishing | 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis | 2- to 20-fold | improved | #10 |
personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) | increase | resilience | 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis | 2- to 20-fold | improved | #11 |
personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) | increase | self-compassion | 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis | 2- to 20-fold | improved | #12 |
personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) | increase | metabolic health | 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis | - | marked improvement | #13 |
personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) | increase | quality of life | 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis | - | meaningful positive impact | #14 |
BACKGROUND: There is little research describing the clinical use of a ketogenic diet in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or inflammatory bowel disease. We describe the first clinical application of a ketogenic diet in adult OCD with ulcerative colitis (UC) resulting in complete remission of OCD, clinical remission of UC, and improved metabolic health. METHODS: A 37-year-old obese woman with longstanding OCD and ulcerative colitis was treated for 12 weeks with a personalized whole-food ketogenic diet (KMT 1:5:1 ratio) in a specialized metabolic psychiatry clinic. Adherence was assessed by capillary beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and photojournaling of food intake. Remission of OCD was assessed by the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Florida Obsessive Compulsive Inventory scale (FOCI), and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement/Severity scale (CGI-S/I). Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Yale Food Addictions Scale 2.0 (YFAS 2.0) assessed depression and food addiction. Remission of UC was assessed by the Partial Mayo Score (PMS) and the Ulcerative Colitis Patient-Reported Outcome (UC-PRO). Metabolic health was assessed by laboratories and bioimpedance. Quality of life was assessed using validated scales for flourishing, resilience, self-compassion, and subjective narrative. RESULTS: Clinical remission of UC occurred within 3 weeks (PMS 0, UC-PRO 0). Progressive improvement in OCD was inversely related to oscillating BHB, with FOCI 0 at 9 weeks, and complete remission at 12 weeks (Y-BOCS 0, CGI-S 1). Body weight decreased 12.2%, with significant decreases in the percentage of body fat and visceral fat. Flourishing, resilience, and self-compassion improved 2- to 20-fold. CONCLUSION: Complete remission of OCD, clinical remission of UC, and marked improvement in metabolic health occurred within 12 weeks using a well-formulated personalized ketogenic diet (KMT ratio 1:5:1) with a meaningful positive impact on quality of life and significant improvements in flourishing, resilience, and self-compassion.