By Dr. Liji Thomas, MD Reviewed by Lauren Hardaker Sep 15 2025 College students with major depression who followed a ketogenic diet for 10–12 weeks saw rapid improvements in mood, well-being, and cognition, pointing to diet as a powerful ally in mental health care. Study: A pilot study examining a ketogenic diet as an adjunct therapy in college students with major depressive disorder. Image credit: PeopleImages/Shutterstock.com Ketogenic (“keto”) diets have become popular among the population