Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparked controversy during a February 5 speech at the Tennessee State Capitol when he claimed that schizophrenia can be "cured" using ketogenic diets.
Speaking about the American diet's impact on health, Kennedy told the crowd, "We now know that the things that you eat are driving mental illness in this country." He then pointed to research by Harvard professor Dr. Christopher Palmer as proof that keto diets can cure schizophrenia.
Kennedy's assertion came from a 2019 case study1 published in Schizophrenia Research by Palmer along with Javier Gilbert-Jaramillo and Eric C. Westman. The paper documented two women with schizophrenia who experienced remission of psychotic symptoms after adopting a ketogenic diet. One patient was treated for over 12 years, with weight and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). PANSS is a standard measure of schizophrenia symptoms. It is assessed before and after treatment.
According to a study2, The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, very low-carbohydrate eating pattern that shifts the body's metabolism from using glucose to producing ketones for energy. This metabolic state, known as ketosis, reduces circulating insulin levels and enhances fat oxidation. The diet has established benefits for epilepsy, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and certain metabolic disorders.
Kennedy Jr., is currently touring across the United States. He is urging Americans to adopt towards the new dietary patterns which include high protein and fat. To add foods such as steak, cheese, butter, and whole milk, while avoiding carbohydrates. His advocacy aligns with the principles of the ketogenic diet, which is often characterized by high fat intake and very low carbohydrate consumption. It also include moderate protein intake.
According to WHO3, Schizophrenia is characterized by significant impairments in the way reality is perceived and changes in behavior of an individual. People with schizophrenia often also experience persistent difficulties with their cognitive or thinking skills, that can include memory, attention, and problem-solving. According to a study4, at least one third of people with schizophrenia experiences complete remission of symptoms
References:
1. Palmer, Christopher M., Javier Gilbert-Jaramillo, and Eric C. Westman. “The Ketogenic Diet and Remission of Psychotic Symptoms in Schizophrenia: Two Case Studies.” Schizophrenia Research 208 (2019): 439–440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2019.03.019.
2. Daley SF, Masood W, Annamaraju P, et al. The Ketogenic Diet: Clinical Applications, Evidence-based Indications, and Implementation. [Updated 2025 Dec 13]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499830/
3. World Health Organization. “Schizophrenia.” Fact sheet, October 6, 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/schizophrenia.
4. Harrison G, Hopper K, Craig T, Laska E, Siegel C, Wanderling J. Recovery from psychotic illness: a 15- and 25-year international follow-up study. Br J Psychiatry 2001;178:506-17.
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