title: Impact of a 6-week non-energy-restricted ketogenic diet on physical fitness, body composition and biochemical parameters in healthy adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ketogenic diet (KD) is a very low-carbohydrate, high-fat and adequate-protein diet that without limiting calories induces different metabolic adaptations, eg, increased levels of circulating ketone bodies and a shift to lipid metabolism. Our objective was to assess the impact of a 6-week non-energy-restricted KD in healthy adults beyond cohorts of athletes on physical performance, body composition, and blood parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our single arm, before-and-after comparison study consisted of a 6-week KD with a previous preparation period including detailed instructions during classes and individual counselling by a dietitian. Compliance with the dietary regimen was monitored by measuring urinary ketones daily, and 7-day food records. All tests were performed after an overnight fast: cardiopulmonary exercise testing via cycle sprioergometry, blood samples, body composition, indirect calorimetry, handgrip strength, and questionnaires addressing complaints and physical sensations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two subjects aged 37 ± 12 years with a BMI of 23.9 ± 3.1 kg/m2completed the study. Urinary ketosis was detectable on 97% of the days, revealing very good compliance with the KD. Mean energy intake during the study did not change from the habitual diet and 71.6, 20.9, and 7.7% of total energy intake were from fat, protein, and carbohydrates, respectively. Weight loss was -2.0 ± 1.9 kg (P< 0.001) with equal losses of fat-free and fat mass. VO2peak and peak power decreased from 2.55 ± 0.68 l/min to 2.49 ± 0.69 l/min by 2.4% (P= 0.023) and from 241 ± 57 W to 231 ± 57 W by 4.1% (P< 0.001), respectively, whereas, handgrip strength rose slightly from 40.1 ± 8.8 to 41.0 ± 9.1 kg by 2.5% (P= 0.047). The blood lipids TG and HDL-C remained unchanged, whereas total cholesterol and LDL-C increased significantly by 4.7 and 10.7%, respectively. Glucose, insulin, and IGF-1 dropped significantly by 3.0, 22.2 and 20.2%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We detected a mildly negative impact from this 6-week non-energy-restricted KD on physical performance (endurance capacity, peak power and faster exhaustion). Our findings lead us to assume that a KD does not impact physical fitness in a clinically relevant manner that would impair activities of daily living and aerobic training. However, a KD may be a matter of concern in competitive athletes.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  DRKS00009605, registered 08 January 2016.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, Section of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetterstr 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Urbain
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, Section of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetterstr 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.|Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Strom
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Sport Science, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morawski
authors.affiliation: Institute for Exercise- und Occupational Medicine, Center for Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wehrle
authors.affiliation: Institute for Exercise- und Occupational Medicine, Center for Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deibert
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, Section of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetterstr 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.|Department of Medicine I, Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bertz
keywords: Blood lipids; Body composition; Cardiopulmonary exercise testing; Endurance capacity; Ketogenic diet; Low carbohydrate; Non-energy-restricted diet; Physical performance; Strength