A study published on February 25 in the journal Nature Communications and conducted under the guidance of Sarah Lessard, an expert in sports medicine, analyzed the impact of diet on physical activity. During the experiment, mice on a high-fat ketogenic diet showed a decrease in blood sugar levels, known as hyperglycemia, and an improvement in their physical performance.
“After a week on the ketogenic diet, their blood sugar levels normalized as if they had no diabetes,” noted Lessard, who works at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. “Over time, this diet led to changes in the muscles, enhancing their oxidative capabilities and response to aerobic exercise.”
The ketogenic diet, which is high in fats and low in carbohydrates, differs from traditional low-fat diets recommended by many nutritionists. It can have a positive impact on health in various conditions, including epilepsy and Parkinson's disease, and was used to treat diabetes before the advent of insulin in the 1920s.
Previous research by Lessard showed that people with high blood sugar levels often experience a decrease in physical performance, prompting her to investigate whether a ketogenic diet could help restore their adaptation to physical activity.
As part of the experiment, mice on a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet regularly ran on a treadmill. As a result, the number of slow-twitch muscle fibers increased, which is associated with enhanced endurance.
“Their bodies became more efficient at using oxygen, which is a sign of improved aerobic endurance,” added Lessard.
According to the researcher, the combination of diet and exercise provides the greatest benefits. “In our studies, we found that diet and physical activity do not work in isolation from each other,” she noted, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach to health.
Lessard plans to expand her research to include humans to determine whether similar improvements are observed in them. However, she also warns that adhering to a ketogenic diet can be challenging, and for many people, a more balanced approach, such as the Mediterranean diet, may be more acceptable, allowing for the maintenance of healthy blood sugar levels.
“Our previous research shows that any strategy developed by you and your doctor to lower blood sugar levels can be effective,” concluded Lessard.
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