Effects of a 12-Week Very-Low Carbohydrate High-Fat Diet on Maximal Aerobic Capacity, High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise, and Cardiac Autonomic Regulation: Non-randomized Parallel-Group Study

Purpose: The aim of this non-randomized parallel group study was to examine the 12 week effects of a very low-carbohydrate high-fat diet (VLCHF) on maximal cardiorespiratory capacity, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) performance, and cardiac autonomic regulation.

Methods: Twenty-four recreationally trained participants allocated to either a VLCHF ( = 12) or a habitual diet (HD; = 12) group completed 12 weeks of a diet and exercise (VLCHF) or an exercise only intervention (HD). Maximal graded exercise tests (GXT) were performed at baseline, after 4, 8, and 12 weeks. A supervised HIIT session and the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30-15) were conducted once a week.

Results: Total time to exhaustion (TTE) in both GXT and 30-15 increased in both VLCHF ( = 0.005, BF = 11.30 and = 0.001, BF ≥ 100, respectively) and HD ( = 0.018, BF = 3.87 and = 0.001, BF ≥ 100, respectively) groups after 12 weeks. Absolute maximal oxygen uptake ( O) was not changed in both groups but relative O increased in VLCHF in concert with reductions in body mass (66.7 ± 10.2-63.1 ± 8.5 kg). Cardiac autonomic regulation did not reveal any between-group differences after 12 weeks. VLCHF diet induced an increase in β-hydroxybutyrate, which tended to normalize during the intervention period.

Conclusion: The 12 week VLCHF diet did not impair high-intensity continuous or intermittent exercise lasting up to 25 min, nor did it impair maximal cardiorespiratory performance or autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity.