Case Report: Carnivore-ketogenic Diet for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a Case Series of 10 Patients

Background: Very-low-carbohydrate diets, including ketogenic and carnivore diets, are gaining popularity for the experimental treatment of a wide range of disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: Participants were recruited through a social media survey. Final inclusion required a histologically confirmed diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease that was responsive to treatment with a ketogenic or carnivore diet without medication or with successful medication cessation on the diet. Clinical improvement was measured with the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ).

Results: We report on 10 cases of IBD responsive to ketogenic, mostly carnivore, diets. Clinical presentations were diverse, including six cases of UC and four of Crohn's disease. Clinical improvements were universal, with clinical improvement scores ranging between 72 and 165 points on the IBDQ. Patients' diets comprised mostly meat, eggs, and animal fats. Patients report their diets are pleasurable, sustainable, and unequivocally enhance their quality of life.

Conclusion: Ketogenic and carnivore diets hold promise for the treatment of IBD, including UC and Crohn's disease. These cases are consistent with clinical literature that shows an inverse association between intestinal ketone levels and IBD activity, as well as the therapeutic effects of low residue elimination diets on colonic microbiota metabolism.