Review
Food Science & Technology
Luigi Barrea, Matteo Megna, Sara Cacciapuoti, Evelyn Frias-Toral, Gabriella Fabbrocini, Silvia Savastano, Annamaria Colao, Giovanna Muscogiuri
Summary: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated skin disease influenced by genetic and lifestyle factors. Nutrition and obesity are significant contributors to its pathogenesis and severity. Certain diets with anti-inflammatory properties, such as the very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD), may improve clinical severity by reducing weight and systemic inflammation.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Luigi Barrea, Ludovica Verde, Pasquale Santangeli, Stefania Luca, Annamaria Docimo, Silvia Savastano, Annamaria Colao, Giovanna Muscogiuri
Summary: Very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) significantly reduces blood pressure and improves body weight and composition in women with obesity and hypertension.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ludovica Verde, Maria Dalamaga, Xavier Capo, Giuseppe Annunziata, Maria Hassapidou, Annamaria Docimo, Silvia Savastano, Annamaria Colao, Giovanna Muscogiuri, Luigi Barrea
Summary: High adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) leads to better results in the very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD), possibly due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the MD, which create a metabolic state favorable for more effective ketosis.
Article
Surgery
Livia Lugarinho Correa, Adriana Moretti, Priscila Alves Medeiros de Sousa, Leticia Dinis, Mariana Fuganti de Souza, Isabel Tostes, Maitane Nunez-Garcia, Ignacio Sajoux
Summary: This study evaluated the response to a very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) in patients who did not achieve desired weight loss or experienced weight regain after bariatric surgery. The results showed significant reductions in weight, BMI, abdominal circumference, and glycated hemoglobin levels post-ketogenic diet, with no differences in certain biochemical markers. The ketogenic diet was recommended as an effective and safe treatment option for these patients.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Luigi Barrea, Ludovica Verde, Cherubino Di Lorenzo, Silvia Savastano, Annamaria Colao, Giovanna Muscogiuri
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the short-term effect of a very low calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) on sleep quality in overweight/obese women. The results showed that VLCKD significantly improved sleep quality, and this improvement was mainly due to the reduction in fat mass.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Roberta Rinaldi, Sara De Nucci, Fabio Castellana, Martina Di Chito, Vito Giannuzzi, Endrit Shahini, Roberta Zupo, Luisa Lampignano, Giuseppina Piazzolla, Vincenzo Triggiani, Raffaele Cozzolongo, Gianluigi Giannelli, Giovanni De Pergola
Summary: A prospective, real-life study showed that a very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is effective and safe for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in overweight and obese individuals. VLCKD can significantly reduce weight, fat mass, and liver fat accumulation, while improving glucose, lipid, and blood pressure levels commonly associated with NAFLD. It also increases HDL cholesterol, vitamin D, and thyroid hormone levels.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Luigi Barrea, Massimiliano Caprio, Mikiko Watanabe, Giuseppe Cammarata, Alessandra Feraco, Giovanna Muscogiuri, Ludovica Verde, Annamaria Colao, Silvia Savastano
Summary: Obesity is an emerging non-communicable disease associated with chronic low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress. The ketogenic diet (KD), characterized by high fat intake, moderate to low protein consumption, and very low carbohydrate intake, has proven to be effective in weight loss and improving the inflammatory state and oxidative stress in individuals with obesity.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Rosita A. Condorelli, Antonio Aversa, Livia Basile, Rossella Cannarella, Laura M. Mongioi, Laura Cimino, Sarah Perelli, Massimiliano Caprio, Sebastiano Cimino, Aldo E. Calogero, Sandro La Vignera
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of body weight loss on urogenital symptoms in overweight/obese male accessory gland inflammation (MAGI) patients. The results showed that both Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) improved the symptoms, with VLCKD showing additional improvement in ejaculatory pain/discomfort and sexual dysfunction, as well as greater weight loss.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Luigi Barrea, Massimiliano Caprio, Elisabetta Camajani, Ludovica Verde, Ausilia Elce, Evelyn Frias-Toral, Florencia Ceriani, Gabriela Cucalon, Eloisa Garcia-Velasquez, Marwan El Ghoch, Annamaria Colao, Silvia Savastano, Giovanna Muscogiuri
Summary: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease associated with multiple comorbidities. Obesity is a risk factor for the onset and severity of psoriasis. The very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) has shown significant effects in reducing inflammatory processes.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Mariangela Rondanelli, Clara Gasparri, Gabriella Peroni, Milena Anna Faliva, Maurizio Naso, Simone Perna, Philip Bazire, Ignacio Sajuox, Roberto Maugeri, Chiara Rigon
Summary: Studies have shown that very low calorie diets and very low carbohydrate diets can affect the gut microbiota composition of obese patients, while very low calorie ketogenic diets alter the composition of fecal microbial populations and impact the plasma metabolome and fecal bile acid composition.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Luigi Barrea, Giulia de Alteriis, Giovanna Muscogiuri, Claudia Vetrani, Ludovica Verde, Elisabetta Camajani, Sara Aprano, Annamaria Colao, Silvia Savastano
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) on muscle strength and inflammation levels in women with obesity. The results showed that after 45 days of the active phase of VLCKD, muscle strength measured by handgrip strength test increased and body composition and inflammation status improved.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Rita Polito, Giovanni Messina, Anna Valenzano, Alessia Scarinci, Ines Villano, Marcellino Monda, Giuseppe Cibelli, Chiara Porro, Daniela Pisanelli, Vincenzo Monda, Antonietta Messina
Summary: Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ that influences immune response and hormone metabolism; accumulation of visceral fat may increase cortisol synthesis. A study on a commercial dietary ketosis program for weight loss found significant decreases in salivary cortisol and GSR levels, as well as improvements in body composition and biochemical features, indicating a short-term positive effect on the SNS and HPA axes.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Claudia Vetrani, Ludovica Verde, Silvia Savastano, Annamaria Colao, Giovanna Muscogiuri, Luigi Barrea
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate whether supplementation with medium-chain fatty acids (MCTs) during a very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) can enhance weight reduction. The study found that MCTs supplementation significantly decreased body weight, fat mass, and waist circumference, and reduced inflammation. Starting MCTs supplementation a few days before VLCKD showed the best results.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Luca Colangeli, Paolo Gentileschi, Paolo Sbraccia, Valeria Guglielmi
Summary: The use of a ketogenic diet (KD) before bariatric surgery (BS) appears to be a safe and effective approach for weight loss, but more studies with homogeneous outcomes are needed for conclusive results.
Article
Andrology
Angelo Cignarelli, Daniele Santi, Valentina Annamaria Genchi, Eleonora Conte, Fiorella Giordano, Simona Di Leo, Annalisa Natalicchio, Luigi Laviola, Francesco Giorgino, Sebastio Perrini
Summary: The very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) can significantly increase serum total testosterone levels and is associated with weight reduction in non-diabetic obese patients. It is particularly effective for obese patients with low testosterone levels.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Mikiko Watanabe, Angela Balena, Dario Tuccinardi, Rossella Tozzi, Renata Risi, Davide Masi, Alessandra Caputi, Rebecca Rossetti, Maria Elena Spoltore, Valeria Filippi, Elena Gangitano, Silvia Manfrini, Stefania Mariani, Carla Lubrano, Andrea Lenzi, Claudio Mastroianni, Lucio Gnessi
Summary: Variables such as increased waist circumference, smoking, hypertension, and longer time elapsed since vaccination were associated with lower antibody titres following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. This suggests that individuals with central obesity, hypertension, and smoking may benefit from earlier vaccine boosters or different vaccination schedules to ensure adequate immune response.
DIABETES-METABOLISM RESEARCH AND REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Dario Tuccinardi, Antonio Di Mauro, Greta Lattanzi, Giovanni Rossini, Lavinia Monte, Ivan Beato, Chiara Spiezia, Maria Bravo, Mikiko Watanabe, Andreea Soare, Shadi Kyanvash, Andrea Armirotti, Sine Mandrup Bertozzi, Amalia Gastaldelli, Claudio Pedone, Yeganeh Manon Khazrai, Paolo Pozzilli, Silvia Manfrini
Summary: Partially replacing SFAs with MUFAs in a chocolate-based snack as part of a short-term isocaloric diet in healthy individuals may limit SFAs detrimental effects on insulin sensitivity and decrease circulating harmful sphingolipids in young adults.
DIABETES-METABOLISM RESEARCH AND REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Davide Masi, Renata Risi, Filippo Biagi, Daniel Vasquez Barahona, Mikiko Watanabe, Rita Zilich, Gabriele Gabrielli, Pierluigi Santin, Stefania Mariani, Carla Lubrano, Lucio Gnessi
Summary: This study used machine learning to cluster patients with metabolically healthy or unhealthy obesity and identified several clinical and biochemical variables that can accurately predict the metabolic status of obese patients.
Article
Immunology
Mikiko Watanabe, Angela Balena, Davide Masi, Rossella Tozzi, Renata Risi, Alessandra Caputi, Rebecca Rossetti, Maria Elena Spoltore, Filippo Biagi, Emanuela Anastasi, Antonio Angeloni, Stefania Mariani, Carla Lubrano, Dario Tuccinardi, Lucio Gnessi
Summary: Obesity is associated with reduced adaptive response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, but weight loss and metabolic improvement may reverse the effect.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Sanja Medenica, Maria Elena Spoltore, Paulina Ormazabal, Ljiljana V. Marina, Antoan Stefan Sojat, Antongiulio Faggiano, Lucio Gnessi, Rossella Mazzilli, Mikiko Watanabe
Summary: Obesity is linked to reduced fertility, with mechanisms such as insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and polycystic ovary syndrome playing a role. Other factors like gut microbiome alterations, low-grade chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress also contribute. Women with obesity take longer to conceive and have lower success rates with in vitro fertilization (IVF).
CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Luigi Barrea, Massimiliano Caprio, Mikiko Watanabe, Giuseppe Cammarata, Alessandra Feraco, Giovanna Muscogiuri, Ludovica Verde, Annamaria Colao, Silvia Savastano
Summary: Obesity is an emerging non-communicable disease associated with chronic low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress. The ketogenic diet (KD), characterized by high fat intake, moderate to low protein consumption, and very low carbohydrate intake, has proven to be effective in weight loss and improving the inflammatory state and oxidative stress in individuals with obesity.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2023)
Review
Andrology
Giuseppe Defeudis, Rossella Mazzilli, Alfonso Maria Di Tommaso, Virginia Zamponi, Francesco Carlomagno, Dario Tuccinardi, Mikiko Watanabe, Antongiulio Faggiano, Daniele Gianfrilli
Summary: This study systematically reviewed the effects of diet and antihyperglycemic drugs on erectile function in diabetic patients. The results showed that the Mediterranean diet was effective in protecting erectile function, and antihyperglycemic drugs had an overall protective role. However, further research is needed on specific drugs.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Rossella Tozzi, Fiammetta Cipriani, Davide Masi, Sabrina Basciani, Mikiko Watanabe, Carla Lubrano, Lucio Gnessi, Stefania Mariani
Summary: This review provides an updated overview of the epigenetic interactions between ketone bodies and SIRT1, highlighting their central, synergistic roles in metabolic health.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
R. Mazzilli, S. Medenica, A. M. Di Tommaso, G. Fabozzi, V. Zamponi, D. Cimadomo, L. Rienzi, F. M. Ubaldi, M. Watanabe, A. Faggiano, S. La Vignera, G. Defeudis
Summary: This article provides an overview of the impact of impaired thyroid function on male and female fertility. In females, thyroid dysfunction is detrimental to pregnancy and fetal outcomes, and the reference range of TSH has recently become a topic of debate. The impact of thyroid function on the male reproductive system is still unclear, but it may play a role in modulating Sertoli and Leydig cells function and spermatogenesis.
JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Renata Risi, Catherine Postic, Mikiko Watanabe
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Ilaria Ernesti, Francesco Baratta, Mikiko Watanabe, Renata Risi, Elisabetta Camajani, Agnese Persichetti, Dario Tuccinardi, Stefania Mariani, Carla Lubrano, Alfredo Genco, Giovanni Spera, Lucio Gnessi, Sabrina Basciani
Summary: The Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet (VLCKD) is a safe and effective intervention for metabolic diseases and obesity. This study examined the predictors of weight loss during VLCKD treatment, including the role of Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21). Results revealed that VLCKD led to improvements in body weight, composition, and metabolic parameters. Lower baseline FGF21, male sex, and central obesity were associated with greater weight loss. This suggests that individuals with these characteristics may benefit more from VLCKD in terms of weight loss. More research is needed to determine if these findings are specific to VLCKD or apply to other calorie restriction diets.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Giuseppe Defeudis, Rossella Mazzilli, Domenico Benvenuto, Massimo Ciccozzi, Alfonso Maria Di Tommaso, Antongiulio Faggiano, Dario Tuccinardi, Mikiko Watanabe, Silvia Manfrini, Yeganeh Manon Khazrai
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate glucose control and insulin regimen modifications during pregnancy in women with T1D, comparing them to non-diabetic, normal-weight pregnant women. The findings showed that women with T1D need to modify their insulin regimen and dietary habits to control weight gain and promote optimal birth outcomes. However, due to the increase in insulin regimen, women with T1D gave birth to babies with higher birth weights than non-diabetic pregnant women.
HORMONES-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM
(2023)
Editorial Material
Nutrition & Dietetics
Mikiko Watanabe, Silvia Savastano, Carla Lubrano, Giovanni Spera
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Filippo Biagi, Francesco Carlomagno, Martina Carbone, Roberta Veralli, Umberto Vespasiani-Gentilucci, Elisabetta Riva, Silvia Manfrini, Dario Tuccinardi, Adriano De Santis, Lucio Gnessi, Mikiko Watanabe, Amedeo Lonardo
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) levels and liver health in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) undergoing direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment. The results showed that after DAA therapy, the increase in FGF-21 levels was negatively correlated with liver stiffness but not associated with hepatic steatosis.
Meeting Abstract
Endocrinology & Metabolism
R. Tozzi, R. Rossetti, S. Basciani, D. Masi, R. Risi, A. Balena, M. Spoltore, M. Watanabe, S. Mariani, L. Gnessi, C. Lubrano