The Effect of a Ketogenic Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet on Aerobic Capacity and Exercise Performance in Endurance Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine how a ketogenic low-carbohydrate, high-fat (K-LCHF) diet affects aerobic capacity and exercise performance in endurance athletes.
Results Summary
The study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis but did not provide conclusive results on whether the K-LCHF diet improves aerobic capacity or exercise performance in endurance athletes. The abstract suggests uncertainty regarding the effects of macronutrient shift from carbohydrate to fat on endurance training and performance.
Population
Endurance athletes
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet | increase | fat utilization of muscle | endurance athletes | - | has been proposed to enhance | #1 |
low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet | increase | aerobic capacity | endurance athletes | - | has been proposed to enhance | #2 |
low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet | increase | exercise performance | endurance athletes | - | thereby improving | #3 |
ketogenic low-carbohydrate, high-fat (K-LCHF) diet | neutral | aerobic capacity | endurance athletes | - | to explore the effects | #4 |
ketogenic low-carbohydrate, high-fat (K-LCHF) diet | neutral | exercise performance | endurance athletes | - | to explore the effects | #5 |
A low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet has been proposed to enhance the fat utilization of muscle and the aerobic capacity of endurance athletes, thereby improving their exercise performance. However, it remains uncertain how the macronutrient intake shift from carbohydrate to fat affects endurance exercise training and performance. This study performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the effects of a ketogenic low-carbohydrate, high-fat (K-LCHF) diet on aerobic capacity and exercise performance among endurance athletes. Searches were carried out in five electronic databases, and we followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search included studies using an LCHF diet as an intervention protocol and compared data on factors such as maximum oxygen uptake (VO