Vegan, keto diets elicit immune and gut responses: Study

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A new research by National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US reveals that transitioning to a vegan diet triggers innate immune system responses, while a keto diet prompts adaptive immunity.

The study also identifies changes in participants’ gut microbiome, but the researchers caution against labeling them as either “beneficial” or “detrimental” without further investigation.

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Despite rapid and diverse metabolic and immune system changes in response to the diets, the impact on therapeutic nutritional interventions for diseases like cancer or inflammatory conditions remains uncertain.

The study, involving 20 participants monitored for two weeks, emphasises the need for further research to tailor diets for disease prevention and treatment.