Acute carbohydrate ingestion does not influence the post-exercise iron-regulatory response in elite keto-adapted race walkers

The post-exercise IL-6 increase was 13.1-fold greater in athletes on a low carbohydrate high fat diet compared to those on a carbohydrate-rich diet during exercise.

• Athletes on a low carbohydrate high fat diet exhibited a significantly higher increase in interleukin-6 (IL-6) after exercise compared to those on a carbohydrate-rich diet.
• The IL-6 response during exercise was similar across both dietary interventions after reintroducing carbohydrates.
• Hepcidin-25 levels increased three hours post-exercise, but did not differ between the low carbohydrate high fat and carbohydrate-rich diets.
• The findings suggest that while IL-6 responses differ based on diet, the availability of carbohydrates does not significantly affect post-exercise iron metabolism.

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