Effect of Isocaloric Ketogenic Diet on Physical Performance at High Altitude (ICKD)

Clinique Romande de Readaptation

Status: Completed

Conditions: Altitude Hypoxia; Physical Activity; Ketogenic Dieting

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Isocaloric ketogenic diet

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: NETWORK

Identifiers

NCT05603689

CRR

Details and patient eligibility

About

A ketogenic diet (KD) reduces daily carbohydrates (CHOs) ingestion by replacing most calories with fat. KD is of increasing interest among athletes because it may increase their maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), the principal performance limitation at high altitudes. The investigators examined the tolerance of a 4-week isocaloric KD (ICKD) under simulated hypoxia and the possibility of evaluating ICKD performance benefits with a maximal graded exercise bike test under hypoxia and collected data on the effect of the diet on performance markers and arterial blood gases.

Full description

In a randomised single-blind cross-over model, 6 recreational mountaineers (age 24 to 44 years) will complete a 4-week ICKD followed or preceded by a 4-week habitual mixed western diet (HD). Performance parameters (VO2max, lactate threshold [LT], peak power [Ppeak]) and arterial blood gases (PaO2, PaCO2, pH, HCO3-) will be measured at baseline under two conditions (normoxia and hypoxia) as well as after a 4-week HD and 4-week ICKD under the hypoxic condition.

Enrollment: 8 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Recreational mountaineers
• Familiarity with altitude (>2500 m above sea level) and males/females 20 to 45 years old.

Exclusion criteria

• high training load (such as professional athletes) or new planned training
• dietary restrictions.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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8 participants in 2 patient groups

Normal diet

Active Comparator group

Description:

no limitations on food consumption.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Isocaloric ketogenic diet

Isocaloric ketogenic diet

Experimental group

Description:

We defined ICKD as a daily CHOs ingestion \< 30 to 50 g.d-1, without any limitation in fat consumption.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Isocaloric ketogenic diet