Psychiatric Disorders

Case Report: Remission of schizophrenia using a carnivore ketogenic metabolic therapy with nutritional therapy practitioner support

This case report describes a 32-year-old male with a three-year history of schizophrenia who achieved full remission of psychotic symptoms after implementing a strict carnivore ketogenic diet with support from a nutritional therapy practitioner. His condition had previously been resistant to standard psychiatric treatment, and he experienced repeated hospitalizations, homelessness, and functional decline.

The patient initially experimented with ketogenic eating while in a homeless shelter, noticing mental health improvements during periods of adherence. Following discharge from a rehabilitation facility, he adopted a strict CKD consisting mainly of beef and tallow, and he sought professional support to optimize his diet and reduce medications.

The practitioner recommended a meat-and-fat-only diet with no carbohydrates, structured around two meals providing a 2:1 ratio of fat to protein to support stable ketosis. The patient monitored blood glucose and ketone levels regularly, aiming for therapeutic ketosis (beta-hydroxybutyrate levels between 2–4 mmol/L). Over the next nine months, he maintained consistent dietary adherence despite unstable living conditions, discontinued all psychiatric medications, and experienced no psychotic symptoms.

Results:

• Remission achieved: Patient experienced no psychotic symptoms while on the carnivore ketogenic diet. By October 2024, his clinical team declared his schizophrenia was in remission.
• Medication discontinued: He fully tapered off psychiatric medications without relapse.
• Sustained ketosis: Patient maintained steady nutritional ketosis throughout the intervention, with daily ketone readings consistently between 1.0 and 5.0 mmol/L and most often within the 3 to 4 mmol/L range.
• Functional improvement: He began volunteering and preparing to support others with mental health conditions.

This is the first documented case of schizophrenia remission associated with a strict carnivore ketogenic diet. The report highlights the potential for ketogenic metabolic therapy as a feasible intervention even under socioeconomic hardship and suggests a need for further investigation into diet-based approaches for serious mental illness.