It's a low-carb diet promoted by celebrities that promises to help you effortlessly slim down simply by cutting out foods like potatoes, pasta and bread.

But the trendy Keto diet could raise the risk of developing diabetes, high cholesterol levels and fatty liver disease, concerning research has suggested.

US scientists, found those on a high-fat, low-carb diet were far more likely to suffer insulin sensitivity and had low insulin levels, raising the risk of diabetes.

The team also discovered they were at higher risk of developing 'dangerously' high levels of harmful cholesterol that can build up in the body, potentially triggering fatty liver disease.

Dr Molly Gallop, a postdoctoral fellow in metabolic biology at the University of Utah, said: 'We observed worsening glucose intolerance and impaired insulin secretion the longer the animals had been on a keto diet.

'Therefore, the keto diet as a treatment for metabolic disease should be questioned even if initial improvements in health are observed.'

A keto diet aims, by almost eliminating energy dense carbohydrates, for people to achieve a state called ketosis.

This means no bread, pasta, rice, and no starchy veg such as corn, beans and squash and almost no fruit.

The trendy Keto diet could raise the risk of developing diabetes , high cholesterol levels and fatty liver disease, concerning research has suggested

Jennifer Aniston has been a fan of cutting out carbs in the past though has since said she does eat them in moderation. Pictured in 2024

Without carbohydrates, the body starts to burn stored fat for energy instead, helping people lose weight.

In the study, researchers fed one group of male and female mice a high keto diet, comprised of 90 per cent fat.

Three other control groups of mice were fed a low-fat diet, of 10 per cent fat, a standard 60 per cent high fat diet and a low-fat, moderate-protein diet which was made up of 10 per cent fat and 10 per cent protein.

Over a follow-up of a year, the scientists discovered the mice on the high keto diet initially lost weight.

However, as time went on, they acquired fatty liver disease, extreme glucose intolerance, and hyperlipidemia -- high amounts of cholesterol and fat in the blood.

The researchers also discovered cholesterol levels were higher in all groups in male mice as compared to female mice.

Those on the high keto diet also gained insulin sensitivity and had low insulin levels.

Writing in the journal Science Advances, they said: 'While male and female mice on high keto diets are protected from weight gain as compared to mice on a traditional high fat diet, the mice experience severe glucose intolerance, high plasma lipids, and impaired insulin secretion with males also developing hepatic steatosis.'

A number of celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow have spoken about being on the low-carb diet in the past

Hepatic steatosis, or fatty liver, is the excessive buildup of fat in liver cells.

'The findings suggest that a keto diet used as a long-term dietary intervention may have harmful effects on metabolic health,' they added.

'Further studies in other strains of mice, other animal and in humans are necessary to determine whether keto diet-linked metabolic derangements are universal.'

A keto diet often consists of 75 per cent fat, 20 per cent protein and only 5 per cent carbohydrates.

By contrast, the NHS's healthy balanced diet advice advocates for 30 per cent fat, 15 per cent protein and 55 per cent carbohydrates.

The typical person on a keto diet is advised to only eat between 20g to 50g of carbohydrates per day.

With a slice of wholemeal bread containing 14g of carbohydrate and a banana 20g, this means people on a keto diet need careful plan their meals.

Despite multiple studies pointing to the potential dangers of a keto diet it has become increasingly popular.

A number of celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry and Kourtney Kardashian have spoken about being on the low-carb diet in the past.

Trendy Keto diet warning as experts link it to three deadly conditions