How do different types of ketogenic diets vary in macronutrient composition?

The standard ketogenic diet (SKD) is the most researched and recommended type of ketogenic diet. It is a very low-carb, moderate-protein, and high-fat diet. The SKD typically consists of 70% fat, 20% protein, and 10% carbs.

A high-protein ketogenic diet is similar to the SKD but includes more protein. The ratio is often 60% fat, 35% protein, and 5% carbs.

There are other types of ketogenic diets, but they are more advanced methods primarily used by bodybuilders or athletes. These include the cyclical ketogenic diet (CKD) and the targeted ketogenic diet (TKD). The CKD involves periods of higher-carb refeeds, such as 5 ketogenic days followed by 2 high-carb days. The TKD allows you to add carbs around workouts.

In addition to these classifications, ketogenic diets can also be categorized by their daily calorie intake. These categories include:

• Very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) with less than 700 to 800 kcal/day, carbohydrate intake <30–50 g/day, lipid intake of up to 30 to 40 g/day, and protein intake of 0.8 to 1.2 g/kg of body weight per day

• Low-calorie ketogenic diet (LCKD) with at least 700 to 800 kcal/day but less than the daily caloric requirement total energy expenditure (TEE), carbohydrate intake <30–50 g/day, lipid intake >30 to 40 g/day

• Isocaloric ketogenic diet (ICKD) with caloric intake in line with the daily TEE requirement, carbohydrate intake <30–50 g/day, lipid intake >70–80% of daily calorie intake

The term Therapeutic Ketogenic Diet is sometimes used to refer to severely restricted diets in both carbohydrate and protein, typically used in the treatment of epilepsy and cancer.

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