Exercise medicine scientist Sarah Lessard published a study in Nature Communications testing a high‑fat, low‑carbohydrate ketogenic diet in mice with hyperglycemia. The mice ate the diet and used running wheels for exercise. After one week on the ketogenic diet, their blood sugar was completely normal, Lessard reported.
Over time the diet caused remodelling of the mice muscles, making them more oxidative and more responsive to aerobic exercise. Compared with mice on other diets, these animals developed more slow‑twitch muscle fibres, which support endurance, and their bodies used oxygen more efficiently.
Lessard had previously found that people with high blood sugar had lower exercise capacity and suggested that diet might improve the response to exercise. The ketogenic diet produces ketosis, a metabolic shift from burning sugar to burning fat. It is controversial because it is high in fat and very low in carbohydrates, though it has been linked to benefits for some conditions and was used before insulin to lower blood sugar.
Next steps include testing whether people gain the same benefits as mice, and researchers note the diet can be hard to follow. A less restrictive plan, such as the Mediterranean diet, might be easier while keeping blood sugar low.
Difficult words
- hyperglycemia — Higher than normal blood sugar level.
- ketogenic — High-fat, very low-carbohydrate eating plan.
- ketosis — State when the body burns fat for energy.
- remodel — Change the structure or form of something.remodelling
- oxidative — Related to use of oxygen in cells.
- slow-twitch — Muscle fibres that work longer, without fatigue.
- endurance — Ability to do activity for a long time.
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Discussion questions
- Do you think a very strict diet is realistic for most people? Why or why not?
- If a diet changes muscles to support endurance, how might that affect everyday activities? Give one or two examples.
- Would you prefer a less restrictive plan (for example, the Mediterranean diet) or try the ketogenic diet if you wanted to lower blood sugar? Explain your choice.
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