Keto diet combined with exercise shows potential for diabetes in study
Key takeaways
- A study has found that a carbohydrate-restricted keto diet combined with exercise lowered blood glucose and restored aerobic exercise adaptation in mice with hyperglycemia.
- The keto diet increased oxidative muscle fibers and mitochondrial density in skeletal muscle, improving the body’s ability to use fat as fuel during exercise.
- Researchers say the findings may have implications for diabetes and hyperglycemia management, but emphasize that the diet is not necessarily beneficial for everyone.
A study has found that following a keto diet in combination with exercise is beneficial for lowering blood sugar, improving aerobic exercise adaptation, and building skeletal muscle. The study was conducted on high-blood-sugar mice to measure blood glucose responses during exercise.
The researchers suggest that these findings may be beneficial for individuals with hyperglycemia, as they often have a persistent low VO2 peak — the rate at which the body takes up oxygen during exercise.
“We show that reducing blood glucose with a carbohydrate-restricted, high-fat keto diet can restore aerobic exercise adaptation in male mice with hyperglycemia,” reads the study.
Aerobic exercise
The study, published in Nature Communications, stresses that chronically high blood sugar may affect proper adaptation to aerobic exercises, limiting the oxygen uptake while exercising.
The research team used mice induced with high blood sugar and a control group. The high-blood-sugar mice received either a keto diet or a normal diet, while the control group was fed only a normal and high-carbohydrate diet, and their weight and blood sugar levels were monitored.
Some mice exercised by wheel running, while others did not. Some of the sedentary mice completed a short exercise. The team further evaluated body composition, maximum exercise capacity, and blood sugar levels.
Exercise showed an overall improved lean mass and lower blood sugar levels, independent of diet.The mice with high blood sugar after the keto diet had lower blood sugar levels than those on the high-carbohydrate diet. They also had blood ketones, meaning they used fat as an energy source.
Exercise showed an overall improved lean mass and lower blood sugar levels, independent of diet.
The researchers explain that, since high blood glucose appears to block some of the benefits of exercise, the exercise improvements from keto are due to the diet’s blood glucose-lowering properties.
Keto also increased the proportion of oxidative muscle fibers, which are more efficient at utilizing fat as fuel. This was found after the mice had exercised, although those on the keto diet had higher results.
The researchers also found that the keto diet in mice increased mitochondrial density and size in skeletal muscle, even when exercise was not accounted for.
The researchers highlight the potential of the findings for people with diabetes but note that further research is needed, as the study was conducted in mice and cannot be directly translated to humans.
Controversies on keto
The researchers stress that a keto diet is not suitable for everyone, especially people with hyperglycemia or type 2 diabetes, who may suffer from other diseases as well.
Prior studies on keto have found contradicting results. Scientists found potentially harmful long-term health effects from following a keto diet, as it may cause severe metabolic complications, including how the body processes fats and carbohydrates.
For mental health, a study published last month found that keto may help with treatment-resistant depression. Participants in the study showed symptom improvement during the six-week trial, although after another six-week follow-up, symptoms diminished, suggesting the diet may only be effective in the short run. Another study also found that it lowers depression symptoms.
