A Low-Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet and Treadmill Training Enhanced Fatty Acid Oxidation Capacity but Did Not Enhance Maximal Exercise Capacity in Mice.

Sihui Ma,Jiao Yang,Chunhong Liu,Katsuhiko Suzuki,Takaki Tominaga

doi:10.3390/nu13020611

Abstract

The low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (LCKD) is a dietary approach characterized by the intake of high amounts of fat, a balanced amount of protein, and low carbohydrates, which is insufficient for metabolic demands. Previous studies have shown that an LCKD alone may contribute to fatty acid oxidation capacity, along with endurance. In the present study, we combined a 10-week LCKD with an 8-week forced treadmill running program to determine whether training in conjunction with LCKD enhanced fatty acid oxidation capacity, as well as whether the maximal exercise capacity would be affected by an LCKD or training in a mice model. We found that the lipid pool and fatty acid oxidation capacity were both enhanced following the 10-week LCKD. Further, key fatty acid oxidation related genes were upregulated. In contrast, the 8-week training regimen had no effect on fatty acid and ketone body oxidation. Key genes involved in carbohydrate utilization were downregulated in the LCKD groups. However, the improved fatty acid oxidation capacity did not translate into an enhanced maximal exercise capacity. In summary, while favoring the fatty acid oxidation system, an LCKD, alone or combined with training, had no beneficial effects in our intensive exercise-evaluation model. Therefore, an LCKD may be promising to improve endurance in low- to moderate-intensity exercise, and may not be an optimal choice for those partaking in high-intensity exercise.

Highlights

Nutrition relates to the idea of developing a balanced diet for mankind [1]
Our current findings revealed that while the 8-week treadmill training regimen exhibited a tendency to reduce the average weight in mice on a chow diet, it did not have weight-lowering effects in low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (LCKD)-fed mice, which means that extra physical activity could not further contribute to weight loss when an LCKD was employed, or at least by a relatively short-term LCKD regimen combined with training
The current opinion of the effect of an LCKD on weight loss is controversial; two meta-analyses discussing this reached different conclusions: one showing that individuals assigned to an LCKD achieve a greater weight loss than those assigned to a low-fat diet [24]; while the other argued that weight loss was induced by either diet, a low-carbohydrate diet, or an isoenergetic balanced diet [25]

Summary

Introduction

Nutrition relates to the idea of developing a balanced diet for mankind [1]. few topics have caused as much controversy as the so-called “best diet” debate. With an ever-increasing number of studies in the fields of human nutrition and dietetics, as well as the explosive spread of information, there is no shortage of information on diets in the current day. The main questions within nutrition that are yet to be conclusively answered are: 1. The answer to question 1 seems relatively simple, but only to a certain extent, as the notion that “quality counts more than calories” advises us to choose fewer refined and processed foods, while trying to expand and diversify our food plate [2]. Regarding question 2, intermittent fasting (including Ramadan intermittent fasting and 16/8 time-restricted feeding) has exhibited preferred metabolic effects according to recent studies [3]. Various chrono-nutrition studies advise us to eat in compliance with our circadian clock [4]

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion