Effect of Isocaloric Ketogenic Diet on Physical Performance at High Altitude

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Altitude Hypoxia; Ketogenic Dieting; Physical Activity
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Isocaloric ketogenic diet

• Registration Number: NCT05603689
• Lead Sponsor: Clinique Romande de Readaptation

Brief Summary

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.

Detailed 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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2020-09-01
• Primary Completion: 2021-09-01
• Study Completion: 2022-09-23
• Status Verified: 2022-10
• Study First Submitted: 2022-10-26
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-10-31
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-10-31
• Study First Posted: 2022-11-03
• Last Update Posted: 2022-11-03

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 8

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.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Normal diet	Isocaloric ketogenic diet	no limitations on food consumption.
Isocaloric ketogenic diet	Isocaloric ketogenic diet	We defined ICKD as a daily CHOs ingestion \< 30 to 50 g.d-1, without any limitation in fat consumption.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Performance test under hypoxic conditions	after 4 weeks of diet	VO2max cycling test on ergometer

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

CRR; 🇨🇭 Sion, Switzerland