Research project The aim of this randomized controlled feeding trial is to study the physiological and metabolic effects of a ketogenic low-carbohydrate high-fat (LCHF) diet.
This study is a randomized controlled trial with a crossover design, where young, normal-weight women follow either a strict LCHF diet or a diet based on the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations. In this feeding trial (where participants consume only the food provided to them), we investigate how an LCHF diet affects risk factors for metabolic disease and physical performance.
LCHF (Low Carb High Fat) is a popular but also debated dietary approach. It initially emerged as a low-carbohydrate diet for weight loss but has since gained interest in other areas, such as epilepsy, sports nutrition, and cancer research.
Our feeding trial (where participants consume only the food provided to them) is a randomized controlled study with a crossover design. Young, normal-weight adult women followed an LCHF diet for 4 weeks and the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations for 4 weeks, with a 15-week washout period in between. We investigate, among other things, how an LCHF diet affects risk factors for metabolic disease and physical performance.
What makes this study unique is its high level of control—participants were not allowed to consume anything other than the energy- and nutrient-calculated meals provided to them. To evaluate the effects of diet alone on various health parameters, the women were required to maintain weight stability and consistent physical activity throughout the study. The primary outcome of the study is LDL cholesterol.
A detailed study protocol is available here. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under NCT02417350.
