Pregnancy

QUESTION:

Dear Dr Dunlop,

I’m not sure if my question strictly falls under the category of paediatrics but it’s related to pregnancy and what is safe for a growing baby.

I was hoping I might be able to get some advice. I am currently following a ketogenic diet (low carbohydrates - staying under 25g carbs per day) and was hoping you might have some information on whether it’s safe to continue this low carb diet during pregnancy or not (I’m not yet pregnant, would like some advice prior to getting pregnant) or whether the body producing ketones during pregnancy isn’t recommended? Thank you for your help 🙏

ANSWER:         

Dear K,

Thanks for your question and for visiting Kids Consult.

Your question is a little out of my area of expertise, and would probably be best posed to an Obstetrician.

Having said that, from my reading, there are no studies to show that a ketogenic diet is safe. That doesn't mean it isn't safe, just that no one has studied it. There is one study in mice that showed potential effects on organ growth, but again, that is one study, and not in humans. Equally there are no human studies that have demonstrated harm.

The upshot of all that is that I don't think anyone is going to be able to tell you for certain that it is safe to be on that diet when pregnant, and it would obviously then depend on why you were on the diet and whether the benefits outweighed uncertain risks.

Regards,

Dr Scott Dunlop
Consultant Paediatrician