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BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation

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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

Changes in the chronic and postprandial blood lipid profiles of trained competitive cyclists and triathletes following a ketogenic diet: a randomized crossover trial

Authors: Austin J. Graybeal, Andreas Kreutzer, Kamiah Moss, Meena Shah

Published in: BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

Background

The ketogenic diet (KD) is the most popular carbohydrate restriction strategy for endurance athletes. However, because the primary goal of employing the KD is to gain a competitive advantage in competition, endurance athletes may be less concerned with the influence of the KD on their cardiometabolic health; particularly their blood lipid profiles. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the chronic and postprandial blood lipid alterations following a two-week ad libitum KD compared to an ad libitum high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) and the athletes’ habitual diet (HD) in a group of trained competitive cyclists and triathletes.

Methods

Six trained competitive cyclists and triathletes (female: 4, male: 2; age: 37.2 ± 12.2) completed this randomized crossover trial, which required them to follow a two-week ad libitum KD and HCD in a randomized order after their HD. Fasting blood lipids were collected following their HD and after two-weeks of the KD and HCD conditions. Postprandial blood lipid responses to a test meal reflective of the assigned diet were collected at the end of each diet condition.

Results

Fasting total cholesterol (TC) was significantly higher following the KD compared to the HD (p < 0.001) and HCD (p = 0.006). Postprandial incremental area under the curve for triglycerides (TRG), TRG:HDL ratio, and VLDL-C were significantly higher following the KD test meal compared to the HD (all p < 0.001) and HCD (all p = 0.001) test meals but LDL-C and LDL:HDL ratio were significantly lower following the KD compared to the HD and HCD test meals (all p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Trained competitive cyclists and triathletes demonstrate increased TC in response to a two-week KD compared to a HCD or HD. Endurance athletes contemplating a KD should consider the potential for these blood lipid alterations, and future research should focus on postprandial blood lipid responses to determine if these changes manifest in chronic blood lipid shifts.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04097171 (11 October 2019).

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Title: Changes in the chronic and postprandial blood lipid profiles of trained competitive cyclists and triathletes following a ketogenic diet: a randomized crossover trial
Authors: Austin J. Graybeal
Andreas Kreutzer
Kamiah Moss
Meena Shah
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 2052-1847
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-023-00801-5

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Changes in the chronic and postprandial blood lipid profiles of trained competitive cyclists and triathletes following a ketogenic diet: a randomized crossover trial

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration

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