Ketogenic Diet Plus Resistance Training Applied to Physio-Pathological Conditions: A Brief Review

Abstract

The ketogenic diet (KD) is a nutritional strategy characterized by a reduced intake of carbohydrates (between 30 and 45 g per day or ≈5% of one’s total calories from this macronutrient). The regimen induces physiological ketosis in which serum levels of ketone bodies increase from 0.5 to 3.0 mM, becoming an essential contributor to energy production. The popularity of using the KD to lose weight and its application in specific physio-pathological conditions, such as epilepsy, lipedema, and polycystic ovary syndrome, which is maintained over extended periods, gave us the impulse to write this brief review. In these types of physio-pathological conditions, subjects can achieve favorable training outcomes even if adhering to a KD. Therefore, performing resistance training under the KD to enhance muscle status and quality of life could be possible. It is important to note that, while some statements here suggest potential future directions, they are hypotheses that require experimental validation, even if they are supported by the independent benefits reported from the KD and resistance training and represent a promising area for future research.