Effects of Low-Carbohydrate and Ketogenic Diets on Aerobic Performance in Trained Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: or 1 week consistently demonstrated maintained or improved performance. CONCLUSIONS: Low-carbohydrate diets reliably induce metabolic adaptation characterized by dramatically increased fat oxidative capacity. However, aerobic performance responses are nuanced, with preserved maximal aerobic power, transient submaximal efficiency impairments, and context-dependent endurance effects. Adaptation involves initial acute-phase decrements (≤7 days) followed by recovery. Evidence supports periodized carbohydrate strategies balancing metabolic adaptation benefits from low-carbohydrate training phases with carbohydrate requirements during competition.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Diet and metabolism studies
Muscle metabolism and nutrition
Dietary Effects on Health
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Nutrients
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 740–740
- Publication date
- 25 February 2026
- Language
- EN