A high-fat ketogenic diet reversed hyperglycemia and improved aerobic exercise capacity in laboratory mice, according to a study published this week in Nature Communications. Researchers at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, in collaboration with Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School, found the diet normalized blood glucose levels and enhanced the body’s response to aerobic exercise in mice with induced high blood sugar.
The study, led by exercise medicine scientist Sarah Lessard, addressed a known challenge: individuals with hyperglycemia often exhibit a diminished ability to benefit from exercise, particularly in terms of improving oxygen utilization. “After one week on the ketogenic diet, their blood sugar was completely normal, as though they didn’t have diabetes at all,” Lessard said, according to a Virginia Tech news release. The research team observed that the ketogenic diet improved aerobic exercise adaptation and promoted muscle mitochondrial remodeling.
Previous research from the group had demonstrated that high blood sugar impairs aerobic adaptation in mice. This new study investigated whether a ketogenic diet – characterized by high fat and low carbohydrate intake – could restore that adaptive capacity during exercise training. Mice with artificially induced hyperglycemia were divided into groups, with some receiving a ketogenic diet while others continued on a standard diet. Control groups of mice without induced hyperglycemia also received a regular diet.
The findings indicated that the ketogenic diet not only lowered blood glucose levels in the hyperglycemic mice but also improved their aerobic exercise response. Researchers noted improvements in peak oxygen consumption rate, a key indicator of cardiovascular fitness. According to a report in Medical News Today, the diet positively impacted the skeletal muscles of the exercising mice.
The study builds on existing research suggesting a link between ketogenic diets and improved metabolic health. A separate article published in PMC notes that both human and animal studies demonstrate chronic hyperglycemia is associated with a blunted adaptive response to aerobic exercise. The Virginia Tech study specifically sought to determine if a ketogenic diet could overcome this impairment.
While the research offers promising insights, the scientists emphasize that the study was conducted on mice. Further research is needed to determine whether similar results would be observed in humans. The team at Virginia Tech is currently planning follow-up studies to explore the potential translational applications of these findings.
