New research presented at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) conference in Amsterdam suggests that what we eat early in life could help protect the brain from stress experienced before birth, at least in rats.
Italian researchers from the University of Milan found that young rats fed a ketogenic diet, high in fat and very low in carbohydrates, showed fewer long-term effects from prenatal stress than those on a standard diet. The findings add to growing evidence that diet can influence brain development and stress responses.
The team stressed pregnant rats during the final week of pregnancy. After weaning, some of the offspring were fed a standard diet, while others received a ketogenic one. When tested later in life, the rats on the keto diet showed fewer stress-related behaviors, such as withdrawal and loss of interest in social interaction. Among the offspring of stressed mothers, half of those eating a standard diet showed behavioral problems, compared to only 22% of males and 12% of females fed the ketogenic diet.
Lead researcher Dr. Alessia Marchesin said the diet appeared to act “like a shield for their developing brains,” preventing social and motivational problems from taking hold. The results suggest that early-life nutrition could play a powerful role in shaping how the brain responds to adversity.
The researchers noted key differences between males and females: males seemed to benefit through reduced inflammation, while females showed stronger antioxidant defenses. That could open the door to more personalized approaches to nutritional therapy, though more work is needed.
Still, the team cautioned that this research is early-stage and based on animal models, meaning it cannot yet be applied to humans. Rats on the ketogenic diet also grew more slowly, raising questions about whether calorie restriction may have influenced the results.
Commenting on the findings, Dr. Aniko Korosi of the University of Amsterdam, who was not involved in the study, called the research “a valuable contribution to the growing field of nutritional psychiatry,” noting that it highlights both the promise and the complexity of using diet to influence mental health.
While far from proof that a ketogenic diet could prevent stress-related disorders in people, the study adds to evidence that food choices may have long-lasting effects on brain development and underscores the potential of nutrition as a tool for mental well-being.
This research was supported by Fondazione Veronesi. One author reported receiving consulting and speaking fees from several pharmaceutical companies, while the remaining researchers reported no conflicts of interest.