Original story: UT Health San Antonio Newsroom
Estrogen may be protective against adverse effects
Contact: Steven Lee, (210) 450-3823, lees22@uthscsa.edu
SAN ANTONIO (August 28, 2025) — Could a keto diet affect males differently from females? A study from The University of Texas Health Science at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) suggests so, and estrogen could promote different protections against adverse effects of the diet like the accumulation of cells expressing markers of age, or senescence.
The study, published Aug. 26 in the journal Cell Reports, found that male, but not female, mice on a ketogenic diet showed the accumulation of cells in organs expressing markers of cellular senescence. A keto diet is a popular low-carbohydrate, high-fat regimen that can help some Type 2 diabetes patients control blood sugar and those with epilepsy manage seizures. Cells expressing senescence markers can contribute to age-related declines in overall bodily function.
“These results suggest sex specificity alters the effects of a ketogenic diet, with important clinical implications,” said David Gius, MD, PhD, assistant dean of research and professor with the Department of Radiation Oncology at UT Health San Antonio, associate cancer director for translational research at the institution’s Mays Cancer Center and investigator for its Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies.
He is lead author of the study, titled, “Divergent sex-specific effects on a ketogenic diet: Male, but not female, mice exhibit oxidative stress and cellular senescence.”
Ketogenic diets induce ketogenesis, the generation of ketone bodies or water-soluble molecules from fat for use as fuel in place of glucose. They have shown benefits in controlling refractory epilepsy and are being investigated as potential therapies for other health conditions.
Story continues:
A keto diet might benefit females more than males, a new UT Health San Antonio study suggests