An 8-Week, Low Carbohydrate, High Fat, Ketogenic Diet Enhanced Exhaustive Exercise Capacity in Mice Part 2: Effect on Fatigue Recovery, Post-Exercise Biomarkers and Anti-Oxidation Capacity

Abstract

A low-carbohydrate, high-fat ketogenic diet (KD) is a nutritional approach ensuring that the body utilizes lipids. In our previous study, we found that an eight-week ketogenic high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet increased the capacity of endurance exercise in mice without aggravated muscle injury, despite the decrease of absolute muscle volume. The potential mechanism is most possibly to be enhanced capacity to mobilize and utilize fat. In the present study, we investigated whether a ketogenic diet influences post-exercise recovery by measuring blood biomarkers, muscle and liver oxidative state as well as fatigue recovery 24 h post exercise by employing an open-field locomotion test. Several biochemistry markers indicating exercise-induced injury after exhaustive exercise were improved by KD, followed by a 24-h rest with free feed access, including lactate. No aggravated hepatic oxidative damage was observed, whereas muscular oxidative stress was increased by KD. Accelerated recovery induced by exhaustive exercise was also observed from blood biomarkers of injury. For fatigue recovery, lactate concentration, a marker often employed as exhaustion index was lowered by KD, whereas an open field test showed that KD application contributed to increased locomotion after exhaustive exercise, followed by a 24-h rest. These results suggest that KD has the potential to be used as a fatigue-preventing and/or recovery-promoting diet approach in endurance athletes.

Are ketogenic diets promising for Alzheimer’s disease? A translational review

“…Similarly, motor performances were improved in all studies, regardless of potential associated cognitive benefits. These results are consistent with many mouse studies demonstrating that keto-adaptation enhanced the capacity to transport and metabolize fat as well as motor abilities and recovery [39][40][41].…”

An 8-Week Ketogenic Diet Alternated Interleukin-6, Ketolytic and Lipolytic Gene Expression, and Enhanced Exercise Capacity in Mice

“…In fact, we have reported in our previous study that KD may reduce muscle damage, as evidenced by lowering damage markers such as creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) caused by exhaustive exercise [ 10 ]. We have also reported that 24 h after exercise, a KD contributed to fast recovery from fatigue, where muscle damage was also relieved [ 27 ]. In this vein, the present study purports that KD may contribute to muscle damage prevention and fatigue recovery by adjusting IL-6 secretion profiles.…”

“…Since our previous report indicated the amount of fatty acid and triglyceride consumption were enhanced in KD mice, we have herein examined the association between IL-6 and enhanced lipolysis. As discussed previously, a KD has been investigated as a low-carbohydrate nutritional approach within athletic nutrition to performance enhancement, but controversial conclusions have been obtained [ 10 , 26 , 27 ]. In our previous studies, we reported that an eight-week, low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet increased running time until exhaustion in male C57BL6/J mice, and suggest the mechanism to be an enhanced fat utilization [ 10 , 27 ].…”

“…As discussed previously, a KD has been investigated as a low-carbohydrate nutritional approach within athletic nutrition to performance enhancement, but controversial conclusions have been obtained [ 10 , 26 , 27 ]. In our previous studies, we reported that an eight-week, low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet increased running time until exhaustion in male C57BL6/J mice, and suggest the mechanism to be an enhanced fat utilization [ 10 , 27 ]. In the present study, we have investigated any alteration in the pattern of messenger RNAs related to lipid mobilization, fatty acid utilization and ketone body oxidation, in red slow-twitch and white fast-twitch muscle tissues, and adipose tissue, to ascertain the underlying mechanisms.…”

Ketogenic diets and protective mechanisms in epilepsy, metabolic disorders, cancer, neuronal loss, and muscle and nerve degeneration

“…Enhanced fat and ketone body utilization involves altered intramuscular triacylglycerol storage and mobilization from adipose tissues and transportation, oxidation, and lipolysis in different muscle fibers via circulation (Huang, Ma, Tominaga, Suzuki, & Liu, ). Accordingly, KD plays a role in modulating muscle‐generated, exercise‐induced pro‐inflammatory cytokines, systemic gluconeogenesis and re‐lipogenesis, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and nonesterified fatty acid in blood, enhancing lipolysis and muscle strength.…”