![[Paper][Case Study] Remission of schizophrenia using a carnivore ketogenic metabolic therapy with nutritional therapy practitioner support - 2025](https://hackertalks.com/pictrs/image/2c9d2c82-49b5-42bd-bf95-e2cf2a494e22.jpeg){kind=link}
This retrospective case report presents the use of a carnivore ketogenic diet by a subject with schizophrenia, supported by a nutritional therapy practitioner, resulting in remission. The narrative describes how ketogenic metabolic therapy can be implemented and optimized in difficult socio-economic circumstances, something not previously reported in the literature. Compliance with diet is reported using glucose and ketone blood markers. The qualitative impact of the therapy is explored from the subject’s perspective as well as the potential for collaboration between nutritional and mental health practitioners to help implement and sustain ketogenic therapies.
Full Paper: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1591937
A case study is one the weakest forms of evidence, its basically a anecdote with a medical witness to certify it really happened. However, it is still interesting.
This parallels the literature we see with respect to ketogenic metabolic therapy and mental health (carnivore is just zero-carb ketogenic diet after all).
Notes:
People with schizophrenia have a significantly higher incidence of obesity and prevalence of diabetes of 10–15%, which is a 2–3 times higher risk than in the general population (6, 7). Signs of metabolic syndrome were first identified in patients with schizophrenia over 100 years ago and current day use of antipsychotic medication comes with a major side effect of increasing metabolic dysregulation
Speaks to the metabolism mental health connection
Underlying biological mechanisms identified in schizophrenia include oxidative stress, insulin resistance, glucose brain hypometabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and glutamate/GABA imbalances
The definition of nutritional ketosis is ketones levels over 0.5 mmol/L (13), at these levels there is a growing body of evidence that the underlying biological processes relating to serious mental illness can be therapeutically impacted resulting in reduced symptoms and better mental wellbeing
There is very limited research on carnivore diets in the medical literature especially in relation to carnivore or animal-based diets. One systematic review looking at associations between meat consumption and avoidance found that majority of higher quality studies showed individuals who avoided meat consumption had significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and/or self-harm behaviors (23)
Ohh, i know what paper I’m doing to read next!
He reported that previous episodes of binge eating carbohydrates on “cheat days” had adversely affected his mental health.
That explains the spiky graph!
It was suggested that he stop supplementing with MCT oil and recommended to drink more water and add a little salt to his food. No other supplementation was used.
A good demonstration of how complete carnivore food is
There is limited evidence of a correlation between ketone levels and mental health symptoms suggesting this is an appropriate target range
Interesting, if this is the case why did the stop the MCT oil ?
His family, who were initially skeptical of the benefits of KMT, now believe it has been more effective than any other therapy.
At around the 7-month mark the subject began to taper off his psychiatric medication. He remained stable throughout this process, the first few days he experienced some insomnia which resolved, and there have been no further adverse side effects.
Wow
A carnivore ketogenic diet is a more restrictive diet and can be more difficult to adhere to than other forms of ketogenic diets suggesting that its use as a therapeutic tool may be limited.
Honestly I think it is easier to be on Carnivore then just general keto. Less freedom, less choices, less chance to mess up, less temptation.
As a result, he had to move out of the family home to a new geographic location and started using cannabis as a coping strategy. He began experiencing negative thoughts, his behavior became more erratic, and he started experiencing psychotic episodes.
I’ve heard other stories about cannabis usage being related to psychosis. Apparently there are different strains of cannabis and everyone responds differently to each, so it’s not clear what effects it has on someone until they use it. Because of this, I’ve never had the courage to try.
At least in the case study presented, cannabis use started after the person had significant problems. So I don’t know if it’s causal or not, but I don’t think it helped
At least in the arena of metabolic mind connection, we know cannabis gives people extreme Munchies, and they eat a bunch of junk. Which probably doesn’t help the metabolism of their brain, so maybe that’s why they have more episodes