The effect of a two-week ketogenic diet, versus a carbohydrate-based diet, on cognitive performance, mood and subjective sleepiness during 36 hours of extended wakefulness in military personnel : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
Loading...
Date
2022
DOI
Open Access Location
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Massey University
Rights
The Author
Abstract
Background: Sleep deprivation (SD) compromises cognitive performance of military personnel, jeopardising operational performance and safety. Since SD-related performance deficits coincide with decreased glucose metabolism in associated brain regions, the ketogenic diet (KD) may mitigate cognitive impairments by providing an alternative fuel source (i.e. ketone bodies [KB]). Aim: To investigate the effect of a 2-week KD compared with a carbohydrate (CHO)-based diet on cognitive function, mood and sleepiness during 36 hours of extended wakefulness. Methods: A randomised, cross-over trial was conducted with 7 military personnel (range, 26- 45 years). Participants ingested a KD (~25 g·day⁻¹ CHO) or CHO-based diet (~285 g·day⁻¹ CHO) for 14 days, immediately followed by 36 hours of wakefulness and separated by a 12-day washout period. Cognitive performance (5-minute Psychomotor Vigilance Task; PVT), mood (fatigue and vigour), subjective sleepiness, and capillary blood glucose and D-β-hydroxybutyrate (D-βHB) concentrations were measured every 2 hours (1, 3 and 5 hours after each meal). Linear mixed models tested the effect of diet, period (6 x 6-hourly bins), test time (1-3) within periods, and their interactions. Results: D-βHB was higher (+0.75 to +1.45 mM; p < 0.001) and glucose was lower (-0.26 to -1.16 mM; p < 0.01) in the KD compared with the CHO-based diet. The KD improved performance for all PVT variables (number of lapses, mean reciprocal reaction time [RRT], slowest 10% RT and fastest 10% RT) (p < 0.05), mood (p = 0.001), and sleepiness (p < 0.001) compared with the CHO-based diet; however, there were no interactions with period or test. Number of lapses and subjective sleepiness increased, and mood, mean RRT and slowest 10% RT deteriorated during the 36 hours of extended wakefulness independent of diet (all p < 0.01). Circadian effects were also observed for fastest 10% RT, mood and sleepiness independent of diet (all p < 0.01). Conclusion: The KD appeared to improve cognitive performance, mood and sleepiness during 36 hours of extended wakefulness compared with the CHO-based diet. This suggests the KD could be considered for military operations when sleep deprivation is anticipated.
Description
Figure 2.1 is re-used with permission.
Keywords
sleep deprivation, Psychomotor Vigilance Task, Keto-adaptation, randomised cross-over trial