Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42654261›Full record

SynthesisNutrients2026

Effects of the Mediterranean Diet, Ketogenic Diet, and Intermittent Fasting on Iron Metabolism and Iron Deficiency Risk in Adults with Obesity: A Systematic Literature Review.

Sandro La Vignera, Rosita Condorelli

Abstract readSystematic ReviewReview
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Nutrients, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Sandro La VigneraDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania (UNICT), Via S. Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-7113-2372
Rosita CondorelliDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania (UNICT), Via S. Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5217-9343

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesObesity is paradoxically associated with iron deficiency despite adequate dietary intake, driven by chronic inflammation and elevated hepcidin. Different dietary patterns may differentially affect iron metabolism in obese individuals, yet comparative evidence remains limited.

methodsWe conducted a systematic literature review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Four databases (SciSpace, Google Scholar, PubMed) were searched through 2025 using terms related to obesity, iron deficiency, and three dietary patterns: Mediterranean diet, ketogenic diet, and intermittent fasting. Studies were screened using seven predefined criteria (three inclusion, four exclusion) with thresholds of ≥4.0/5.0 for abstract screening and ≥4.5/5.0 for full-text screening.

resultsFrom 396 identified records (SciSpace

conclusionsAmong the three dietary patterns examined, the Mediterranean diet appears most protective for iron status in obese individuals. The ketogenic diet may pose the highest risk due to restricted dietary iron diversity and potential hepcidin-independent absorption impairment. Direct comparative randomized controlled trials are urgently needed. Clinicians should routinely monitor iron biomarkers, including hepcidin, in obese patients undertaking any dietary intervention. Quantitative biomarker data from the 38 included studies showed serum ferritin reductions of 8-28%, hemoglobin levels remaining within clinically stable ranges, and IL-6 decreases of 15-42% across dietary patterns.

Indexed as

Anemia, Iron-DeficiencyDiet, KetogenicDiet, MediterraneanFastingIntermittent FastingIronIron DeficienciesObesityAdultFemaleHepcidinsHumansMaleHepcidinsIronferritinhepcidinintermittent fastingiron deficiencyiron metabolismketogenic dietMediterranean dietobesityPRISMA

Identifiers

PMID42654261
PMCPMC13517051

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.