Year: 2018
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: The primary purpose of this investigation was to compare performance adaptations in tactical athletes utilizing a ketogenic diet (KD) vs. control (CON) during a 12-week strength and conditioning program in conjunction with their standard military fitness training.Little research has been conducted on the effects of a ketogenic diet on strength and power outcome goals, yet a ketogenic diet has demonstrated to be physiologically beneficial in other populations.Participants self-selected to a diet intervention KD (n=15), or CON (n=14).The training intervention included 6 weeks of resistance training, emphasizing back squat and bench press, and 6 weeks of power training, emphasizing Olympic lifts and plyometric training.PRE and POSTintervention, countermovement jump (CMJ), 1 RM back squat and bench press, repeated sprint intervals, an obstacle course, VO2 Max, and body composition measures were assessed.At Week 1 (MP1) and Week 6 (MP2) an abbreviated performance battery was conducted including CMJ, 1 RMs, and the sprint intervals.For KD, BF% was significantly higher PRE (25.6 ,SE 5.0) than POST (20.26,SE 4.9) compared to CON PRE (22.0, SD 8.6) and POST (21.3, SD 8.4).For KD, FM was significantly higher PRE (46.5, SE 9.8) than POST (33.6, SE 7.6) compared to CON PRE (38.2, SD 17.5) and POST (36.9 SD 16.7).For KD, LBM was significantly higher PRE (135.9,SE 13.7) than POST (132.9,SE 14.8) compared to CON PRE (131.4,SD 9.5) and POST (133.1,SD iii 10.1).There were no significant effects between groups for performance measures.Absolute back squat PRE (mean 110.33,SE 5.41) and MP1 (mean 111.72,SE 4.76) were both significantly less than MP2 (mean 122.53,SE 4.47) and POST (mean 125.90, SE 4.50).Relative back squat PRE (mean 1.34, SE .06)and at MP1 (mean 1.37, SE .06)were both significantly less than MP2 (mean 1.53, SE .06)and POST (mean 1.59, SE .06).Relative bench press PRE (mean 1.10, SE 0.07) and at MP1 (mean 1.11, SE 0.07) were both significantly less than MP2 (mean 1.16, SE 0.07) and POST (mean 1.18, SE 0.07).There was no effects of time or training on power measures.In summary, resistance training two days per week significantly improved leg strength but had little effect on upper body strength and power.A ketogenic diet had similar strength gains and performance measures compared to CON.This indicates a ketogenic diet can be an effective weight management tool in tactical athletes without causing detriment to power and strength-related tasks.To Dr. Jeff Volek, for seamlessly incorporating me into your lab group and letting me play such an integral part in the huge endeavor of TANK, thank you.To Dr. Carl Maresh, for providing an excellent example of leadership to this "basement" and for sparking my passion for exercise physiology from the very first class in Connecticut (with old projector slides instead of a PowerPoint), thank you.To the entire A24 crew, thank you for pushing me, believing in me, commiserating and celebrating with me, and ultimately making those eighty-hour work weeks some of the most fun and rewarding times in my life.And finally, to my family for creating the most supportive environment I could ask for.Thank you for being incredible role models.
Author: Emily C. Barnhart
Institution: The Ohio State University
Language: English
Topic: Diet and metabolism studies
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Ohio State University
OpenAlex ID: W2888027597