Keto and (Long) Covid
Keto Medicine
Therapeutic Options Through a Ketogenic Diet for COVID, Post-COVID, and Long COVID
Article by the Keto doctors Dr. Brigitte Karner and Dr. Wolfgang Karner
The COVID-19 pandemic has left devastating effects worldwide not only during the acute wave of infections but has also led to persistent health issues in many patients. These symptoms, known as Long COVID or Post-COVID Syndrome, range from extreme fatigue, “brain fog,” shortness of breath, and cardiovascular problems to immune system disturbances and neurological complaints. In many cases, symptoms last for months or even years and significantly impair the quality of life of those affected. Despite intensive research, there is still no unified therapy for Long COVID.
In this context, the ketogenic diet is increasingly being discussed as a potential treatment option—especially due to its documented benefits for metabolism, the nervous system, and the immune system.
The ketogenic diet and its effects on metabolism
The ketogenic diet is a very low-carbohydrate, high-fat nutritional approach that puts the body into a state of ketosis. In ketosis, the body burns fat instead of glucose as its primary energy source. This leads to the production of ketone bodies, which have many positive effects on metabolism and the immune system. Ketone bodies serve not only as an alternative fuel but also have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties.
Benefits of the ketogenic diet for the immune system and cellular metabolism
One of the key mechanisms by which the ketogenic diet may help with Long COVID is its effect on the immune system. A study by Hirschberger et al. (2021) showed that a low-carbohydrate diet improves immune function through metabolic reprogramming of T-cells. T-cells play a central role in immune defense and are essential for fighting infections, including viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen responsible for COVID-19. In cases of impaired T-cell function, as often observed in Long COVID patients, a ketogenic diet may help strengthen the immune response and support the regeneration of the immune system.
Another major issue in Long COVID is metabolic dysfunction, particularly impaired energy production within cells. A study published in 2022 examined the role of ketogenesis—the body’s ability to produce ketone bodies. This study showed that disrupted ketogenesis leads to dysfunctional T-cell activity and contributes to an insufficient immune response. A ketogenic diet can specifically counteract this by supporting ketone body production and thereby addressing the disrupted metabolic processes.
Ketogenic nutrition in severe COVID-19 cases and Long COVID
Another widely noted study examined the use of the ketogenic diet in critically ill sepsis patients in intensive care. Sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to infection, shows many parallels to severe COVID-19 cases, particularly regarding systemic inflammatory responses and disrupted metabolism. The results of this study are highly promising:
The ketogenic diet led to improved metabolic control and a 30% increase in survival rates among sepsis patients in intensive care. Thirty percent!
That is sensational!
These findings suggest that a ketogenic diet may also be beneficial for patients with severe COVID-19 or Long COVID, especially those suffering from persistent metabolic dysfunction and inflammation. The anti-inflammatory effect of ketone bodies helps reduce chronic inflammation, which is present in many Long COVID patients.
Our COVID patients have achieved impressive results with a ketogenic diet.
This is what our COVID and Long COVID patients say:
Live lighter and feel stronger!
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Your Dr. Brigitte Karner & Dr. Wolfgang Karner
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Scientific Studies on COVID, Post-COVID and Long COVID, and Ketogenic Nutrition
S. Hirschberger et al. (2021): Very‐low‐carbohydrate diet enhances human T‐cell immunity through immunometabolic reprogramming
The Keto Study →
An open-label, randomized controlled trial to assess a ketogenic diet in critically ill patients with sepsis
The Keto Study →
F. Karagiannis et al. (2022): Impaired ketogenesis ties metabolism to T cell dysfunction in COVID-19
The Keto Study →