Effects of Low-Carbohydrate and Ketogenic Diets on Aerobic Performance in Trained Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #metabolic adaptation
- #ketogenic diet
- #aerobic performance
- Low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets can induce metabolic adaptation in trained athletes, potentially maintaining or improving performance.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis found that maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) was preserved in 50% of studies, with 11.1% showing improvements.
- Submaximal exercise economy was impaired in 50% of studies, while time to exhaustion was maintained in 69.2% of cases.
- All studies measuring fat oxidation reported increases ranging from +28% to +200%.
- A 1-week adaptation threshold was identified, with performance impairments observed within ≤7 days but maintained or improved performance after >1 week.
- The findings support periodized carbohydrate strategies, balancing low-carbohydrate training phases with carbohydrate requirements during competition.