Ketogenic Approaches in Metabolic Health: Current Evidence, Sex-Informed Insights, and Clinical Prospects

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue invites original research, reviews, brief reports, and methodological papers that evaluate ketogenic approaches, such as dietary interventions and/or exogenous ketones, on metabolic health across diverse populations. We prioritize studies that incorporate sex as a biological variable and report sex-stratified outcomes where feasible, spanning adolescents to older adults and including pregnancy/postpartum, reproductive transitions, and aging. We welcome mechanistic and clinical investigations on obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, NAFLD, dyslipidemia, neuro-metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes, renal and endocrine interfaces, body composition, performance, and quality of life. Submissions leveraging biomarkers and biowearables (e.g., β-HB exposure metrics, CGM coupling, HRV, and sleep) and omics or imaging are encouraged, as are implementation, safety, adherence, and real-world effectiveness studies. Comparative work (ketogenic diet vs. mixed diet, diet vs. exogenous ketones, dose–response relationship) and transparent reporting of energy availability, menstrual/androgen axis measures when applicable, and standardized ketone metrics (AUC, time-in-ketosis) are strongly encouraged. Studies in one sex are welcome with explicit rationale and discussion of generalizability.

Dr. Madison L. Kackley
Dr. Milene L. Brownlow
Guest Editors

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