A very-low-calorie ketogenic diet normalises obesity-related enhanced levels of erythropoietin compared with a low-calorie diet or bariatric surgery.

The obesity-related increased EPO levels are restored after VLCKD intervention at the time of maximum ketosis, suggesting a potential role of the nutritional ketosis induced by the VLCKD. Baseline EPO levels could be a biomarker of response to a weight-loss therapy.