Research

Energy balance

An 8-week very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet significantly improves metabolic health markers (lipids, glucose, insulin, inflammation) in competitive natural bodybuilders compared to a Western diet.

Beyond body composition, this diet significantly improves metabolic health markers. You will see lower triglycerides, better insulin sensitivity, and reduced inflammation. This makes it a viable option for bodybuilders concerned with long-term health metrics during a cut.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
KD showed a significant decrease of blood triglycerides... glucose... insulin and inflammatory cytokines compared to WD
Antonio Paoli et al. · Nutrients · 2021

Why this rating

Small sample size, but clear statistical significance in multiple metabolic markers.

Source

Effects of Two Months of Very Low Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet on Body Composition, Muscle Strength, Muscle Area, and Blood Parameters in Competitive Natural Body Builders

Antonio Paoli et al. · Nutrients · 2021

DOI 10.3390/nu13020374

rct · n=19Cited 134×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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