Alteration in Amino Acid Metabolism After Isocaloric, Energy-Restricted Ketogenic Diet in Women with Overweight and Obesity: Randomized KETO-MINOX Trial.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial.
PubMed 41599913 · doi:10.3390/nu18020300
What was done
Researchers conducted a single-center randomized controlled trial (KETO-MINOX) evaluating the effect of an 8-week energy-restricted Mediterranean-type ketogenic diet (KD) versus an isocaloric standard diet (STD) on amino acid metabolism. Eighty women aged 18–45 with overweight or class I obesity (BMI 25.5–35) and without chronic disease were enrolled and provided with catered food (~1750 kcal/day). Serum and urine amino acid concentrations were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. Data from 66 participants were analyzed.
What was found
The abstract reports no absolute numbers, effect sizes, or p-values. Independent of diet type, weight loss was associated with higher circulating α-aminobutyric acid, lower circulating proline, glutamate, and tyrosine, and reduced total urinary amino acid excretion. Compared to STD, KD resulted in lower circulating concentrations of alanine, methionine, threonine, and tryptophan, higher circulating levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and α-aminobutyric acid, and higher urinary excretion of BCAA and β-aminoisobutyric acid.
Why it matters
This trial identifies specific alterations in circulating and excreted amino acid profiles induced by a ketogenic diet compared to an isocaloric control, helping distinguish diet-specific metabolic shifts from general weight-loss effects.
Limits
The abstract provides no numerical data, confidence intervals, or statistical values. Findings from this small cohort of young-to-middle-aged women without chronic diseases cannot be directly generalized to men, older populations, or patients with type 2 diabetes. The intervention was limited to 8 weeks.
Cited by
- contradicts Being on a ketogenic diet reduces circulating blood glutamine levels.