Overweight divers face a challenging activity such as immersions, starting from a higher levels of circulating cytokines and oxidative stress. Ketogenic Diet (KD) is described as effective in weight loss, in countering inflammation and oxidative stress, and used in the control of drug-refractory seizures. The aim of our pilot study was to evaluate if a ketosis state induced by a specific dietary regime, may have a protective effect on oxidative stress damages and inflammatory status, that accompanies both overweight and diving activities. Blood and urine samples from six overweight divers were obtained a) before (CTRL) and after a dive breathing Enriched Air Nitrox and performing light underwater exercise (NTRX), b) after a dive (same conditions) performed after 7 days of KD (K-NTRX). We measured urinary 8-isoprostane and 8-OH-2-deoxyguanosine evaluating lipids peroxidation and DNA oxidative damages. Plasmatic IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels were measured to investigate the inflammatory status.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
6
Diet consisted of a very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet (for 7 days) with the use of some phytoextracts as previously described. The consumed diet was primarily made of beef and veal, poultry, fish, raw and cooked green vegetables without restrictions, cold cuts (dried beef, carpaccio and cured ham), eggs and seasoned cheese (e.g., parmesan). The allowed drinks were infused tea, moka coffee and herbal extracts. The foods and drinks that subjects had to avoid included alcohol, bread, pasta, rice, milk, yogurt, soluble tea, and barley coffee. To facilitate adherence to the nutritional regime, a variety of special meals based on protein and fibers were given to each subject. KD characteristics are protein intake 1.3g/kg/day, to maintain skeletal muscle mass; carbohydrates intake less than 40 g/day and 50-60% of total kcal to induce ketosis. In accordance with a hypocaloric profile, total energy intake was calculated with 200 kcal more than basal metabolic rate.
Oxidative damage change
8-OH-dG (ng ⋅ mg-1 creatinine) and 8-iso-PGF2α (ng ⋅ mg-1 creatinine)
Time frame: Change from Baseline Oxidative damage at twenty days
Pro-inflammatory cytokines change
IL-1β (pg/ml), IL-6 (pg/ml) and TNF- α (pg/ml)
Time frame: Change from Baseline Pro-inflammatory cytokines at twenty days
Weight Loss
Kilogram (Kg)
Time frame: Weight was registered before (T0) and after twenty days of no diving activity in which subjects were engaged in a 7-days Ketogenic Diet (T3).
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