Overview
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told a crowd at the Tennessee State Capitol that a ketogenic diet can cure schizophrenia, citing a Harvard physician.
- Kennedy’s remarks came during a national tour promoting revamped federal dietary guidelines that prioritize protein and fats over carbohydrates.
- Psychiatrists including Columbia University’s Paul S. Appelbaum and Mark Olfson said there is no credible evidence of a cure and described the claim as misleading.
- Existing research consists of small, short-term studies, including one at Stanford, often without control groups, and many participants continued taking antipsychotic medication.
- An allied MAHA Action social post amplifying Kennedy’s claim was deleted after The New York Times asked for supporting evidence.