The ketogenic diet is likely not the ideal diet for most athletes, but in some cases it could be useful. A ketogenic diet could help with weight loss for athletes in bodybuilding and for sports that have weight classes. The ketogenic diet has not been conclusively shown to increase the risk of losing lean body mass while in a caloric deficit, so it can be an option for weight loss, muscle growth, or maintenance diets.[1][2] Current evidence also suggests that ketogenic diets do not negatively affect aerobic fitness or endurance performance, although more research is needed in this area.[3][4][1]
Overall, the evidence remains inconsistent on the effect a ketogenic diet might have on endurance, sprint, and strength athletes.[5][6]
References
- ^Wang Y, Zhou K, Wang V, Bao D, Zhou JThe Effects of Concurrent Training Combined with Low-Carbohydrate High-Fat Ketogenic Diet on Body Composition and Aerobic Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Int J Environ Res Public Health.(2022-Sep-14)
- ^Mohammad Reza Amini, Azadeh Aminianfar, Sina Naghshi, Bagher Larijani, Ahmad EsmaillzadehThe effect of ketogenic diet on body composition and anthropometric measures: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsCrit Rev Food Sci Nutr.(2021 Jan 14)
- ^Jingguo Cao, Siman Lei, Xiuqiang Wang, Sulin ChengThe Effect of a Ketogenic Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet on Aerobic Capacity and Exercise Performance in Endurance Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisNutrients.(2021 Aug 23)
- ^Salvador Vargas-Molina, José L Gómez-Urquiza, Jerónimo García-Romero, Javier Benítez-PorresEffects of the Ketogenic Diet on Muscle Hypertrophy in Resistance-Trained Men and Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisInt J Environ Res Public Health.(2022 Oct 3)
- ^McSwiney FT, Doyle L, Plews DJ, Zinn CImpact Of Ketogenic Diet On Athletes: Current Insights.Open Access J Sports Med.(2019)
- ^Durkalec-Michalski K, Nowaczyk PM, Główka N, Ziobrowska A, Podgórski TIs a Four-Week Ketogenic Diet an Effective Nutritional Strategy in CrossFit-Trained Female and Male Athletes?Nutrients.(2021 Mar 6)