Effect of the ketogenic diets on muscle hypertrophy in resistance-trainined men and women: a systematic review & meta-analysis
Salvador Vargas-Molina, José Luis Gómez-Urquiza, Jernónimo García-Romero, Javier Benítez-Porres. Effects of the ketogenic diets on muscle hypertrophy in resistance-trained men and women: a systematic review & meta-analysis.
PICO (S) asks: "Population" resistance-trained male participants" "Intervention": "training protocol and ketogenic diets; "Control" "Group that did not ketogenic diet". Results: "increased fat free mass or muscle tickness; "Studies": "randomized controlled studies".
The scientific literature search was performed in electronic databases PubMed, Web of Sciences(WOS) ans SCOPUS.
The search consisted of keywords related ("ketogenic diet" OR "Ketogenic dieting" OR "Los carbohydrate diet") AND ("Body composition" OR "fat free mass" OR "lean body mass" OR "LBM" OR "ultrasound") AND ("resistance training" OR "Strength training" OR "muscle" OR "muscle mass" OR "hypertrophy" OR "training hypertrophy" OR "trained men" OR "training males" OR "trained women")
Systematic review & meta-analysis
Condition or domain being studied
Impact on muscle hypertrophy by the application the ketogenic diets in resistance trained participants
Resistance-trained participants (men a women)
Intervention (s)/exposure
Aplicattion of ketogenic diets with resistance-training
Control group performs the same physical exercise and consumes the same calories, however, does not restrict carbohydrates
Advanced participants with application of ketogenic diet and resistance training simultaneously
Maintenance or increase of fat-free mass
Data extraction (selection and coding)
Studies were searched and analyzed by two independent reviewers (S.V.M and J.B.P). The articles found were coded using the Endnote reference manager, and discrepancies regarding the interprepatinon of the extracted data were discussed by both researches. In addition, the articles were filtered using the inclusion criteria: a) randomized trials, with a minimum duration of 8 weeks; b) the use of a KD in resistance-trained participants, competitors or elite athletes; c) evaluation of body composition by means of DXA, bioimpedance or ultrasound; d) data presented as means and standard deviations; e) no interventions using nutritional or dietary supplements; and f) the text was in English and available in full.
The articles were selected according to their title and abstract. Articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria were discarted. In the second phase, the entire article was read and analyzed. Information was extracted from the articles on the numbre of participants, the type and duration or interventions, and characterictics of the population.
Risk of bias (quality) assesment
The risk of bias assesment will be carried out following the recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration. For each study, seven domains were scored with high, low or unclear risk of bias. These domains were: sequence generation, allocation concealment, blinding of participants and staff, blinding of outcome assesment, incomplete outcome data, selective outcome reporting, and other issues considered.
Strategy for data synthesis
To perform this meta-analysis, the effect the ketogenic and non-ketogenic diet was analyzed as a control group. Both gropus performed strength exercises. Data were extracted using the mean and standard deviation (numerical values) presented after the intervention.
The results or this meta-analysis were presented with mean differences (MD) and 95% confidence intervan (CI). Heterogneity was also present, estimated by measuring its extent by the I2 index. The authors examined the P value for this stastics and noted the presence of heterogeneity when P<0.05, compromising the validiity of the pooled estimates. In addition, the i2 inex considered low heterogeneity (0-40%), moderate (30-60%), considerable (50-90%) o substantial (75-100%).
Review team members and their organisational affiliations
Salvador Vargas Molina (EADE-University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Málaga Spain; University of Malaga, Málaga, Spain). José Luis Gómez Urquiza (University of Granada, Granada, Spain). Jerónimo García-Romero (University of Malaga, Málaga, Spain). Javier Benítez-Porres (University of Malaga, Málaga, Spain).
Type and method of review
Meta-analysis, Systematic review
Anticipated or actual start date
Anticipated completion date
There are not conflicts of interest