SynthesisNutrients2026
Effects of Low-Carbohydrate and Ketogenic Diets on Aerobic Performance in Trained Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in Nutrients, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/
objectivesWhile traditional sports nutrition emphasizes high carbohydrate intake for endurance athletes, trained athletes may achieve metabolic adaptation to low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets with maintained or improved performance outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesize evidence on the effects of low-carbohydrate (≤130 g·day
methodsA comprehensive search of five electronic databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) identified 33 aerobic-focused studies meeting comprehensive inclusion criteria. Selected studies examined trained athletes (≥6 months structured training, age 18-45 years) randomized to low-carbohydrate, ketogenic, or high-carbohydrate control conditions with outcome data on aerobic performance variables (VO
resultsMaximal aerobic capacity (VO
conclusionsLow-carbohydrate diets reliably induce metabolic adaptation characterized by dramatically increased fat oxidative capacity. However, aerobic performance responses are nuanced, with preserved maximal aerobic power, transient submaximal efficiency impairments, and context-dependent endurance effects. Adaptation involves initial acute-phase decrements (≤7 days) followed by recovery. Evidence supports periodized carbohydrate strategies balancing metabolic adaptation benefits from low-carbohydrate training phases with carbohydrate requirements during competition.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.