Christopher Gardner
Nutrition scientist at Stanford University
Christopher Gardner is a nutrition scientist and the Rehnborg Farquhar Professor of Medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research Center. He runs randomized diet trials, among them DIETFITS, which compared healthy low-fat and low-carb diets for weight loss, a trial of keto against a Mediterranean diet, and a study of identical twins on vegan and omnivore diets. He describes himself as mostly vegan for about 40 years.
Updated November 1, 2026 · cited in 3 guides
Where our guides cite Christopher Gardner
Their public positions, summarized in our words. Follow each link for the full context.
Avoiding seed oilsOppose or doubt it
Says studies consistently show health gains when plant oils replace lard or tallow, finds the controversy surprising for such a well-studied topic, and blames junk food rather than seed oils.
Ketogenic dietMixed or cautious
Led trials in which keto matched a Mediterranean diet on HbA1c and a low-fat diet on weight, but raised LDL, cut fiber and nutrients and proved hard to sustain; he favors cutting added sugar and refined grains rather than whole food groups.
Stanford Medicine: Keto and Mediterranean diets both help manage diabetes (2022)
Plant-based and vegan dietsFollow it
Senior author of the Stanford vegan twins trial; describes himself as mostly vegan for about 40 years and says adding more plant foods matters more than going strictly vegan.