A study conducted by the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, in collaboration with the University of Paris Cité, has revealed that even a brief ketogenic diet during pregnancy can lead to sex-specific developmental changes in mouse offspring. Researchers found that a 10-day high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet during late gestation resulted in fewer female births, lower female birth weights, and shorter lifespans in male offspring.
The research showed that female embryos were particularly vulnerable, likely due to the heightened sensitivity of female placentas to fat composition. While birth weights in female offspring normalised within two weeks, male offspring displayed increased body mass later in life, accompanied by a significantly reduced lifespan.
Despite these developmental effects, no lasting metabolic or behavioural abnormalities were identified. Blood glucose, ketone levels, activity patterns, and reproductive capacity remained unaffected.
Lead author Sarah M. Zala said the findings raise concerns about the potential risks of ketogenic diets during pregnancy. The researchers are calling for further studies to explore how such diets might influence prenatal development, epigenetic changes, brain development, and ageing.
Source: University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
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