The benefits of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of myasthenia gravis

German clinicians have investigated the benefits of the ketogenic diet (very high in fat and low in carbohydrates) in autoimmune myasthenia gravis, following on from other trials – some of which were successful – in other autoimmune diseases:

• 41 adults with autoimmune myasthenia gravis took part in a randomised controlled trial, with two separate groups (20 on a ketogenic diet, 21 on no specific diet),
• several biomarkers were used as part of the trial (myasthenia gravis functional scores, neurofilament and calprotectin levels, etc.),
• the results after three months proved encouraging, with a clear benefit for the group on the ketogenic diet.

The authors emphasise the limitations of the trial and the need to conduct it on a larger scale and over a longer period to derive useful recommendations for clinicians.

Impact of a ketogenic diet on clinical outcomes and immunological markers in myasthenia gravis: A randomized pilot study. Makus B, Schulze D, Lehnerer S et al. J Autoimmun. 2026 May;160:103562.