Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral ResearchJul 23, 2022

Short-Term Low-Carb Diet Reduces Bone Building More Than Low Calorie Intake, Both at Rest and During Long Exercise

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Updated Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

Carbohydrate restriction resulted in a 26% reduction in a bone formation marker compared to a high carbohydrate diet.

Low carbohydrate/high fat diets showed significant decreases in bone formation markers at rest and during exercise.
Fasted levels of procollagen-1 N-terminal peptide (P1NP), gla-OC, and glu-OC were reduced by 26%, 22%, and 41%, respectively, in the low carbohydrate/high fat group.
Significant but smaller reductions in P1NP (~14%) and glu-OC (~24%) were observed in the low group.
Both low carbohydrate/high fat and low energy availability diets led to increases in a marker of bone resorption (CTX) after exercise.
Markers of bone formation during exercise were maintained with low energy availability, despite increased bone resorption.

Simplified

Bone stress injuries are common in athletes, resulting in time lost from training and competition. Diets that are low in have been associated with increased circulating bone resorption and reduced bone formation markers, particularly in response to prolonged exercise. However, studies have not separated the effects of low energy availability per se from the associated reduction in carbohydrate availability. The current study aimed to compare the effects of these two restricted states directly. In a parallel group design, 28 elite racewalkers completed two 6-day phases. In the Baseline phase, all athletes adhered to a high carbohydrate/high energy availability diet (CON). During the Adaptation phase, athletes were allocated to one of three dietary groups: CON, low carbohydrate/high fat with high energy availability (LCHF), or low energy availability (LEA). At the end of each phase, a 25-km racewalk was completed, with venous blood taken fasted, pre-exercise, and 0, 1, 3 hours postexercise to measure carboxyterminal telopeptide (CTX), procollagen-1 N-terminal peptide (P1NP), and osteocalcin (carboxylated, gla-OC; undercarboxylated, glu-OC). Following Adaptation, LCHF showed decreased fasted P1NP (~26%; p < 0.0001, d = 3.6), gla-OC (~22%; p = 0.01, d = 1.8), and glu-OC (~41%; p = 0.004, d = 2.1), which were all significantly different from CON (p < 0.01), whereas LEA demonstrated significant, but smaller, reductions in fasted P1NP (~14%; p = 0.02, d = 1.7) and glu-OC (~24%; p = 0.049, d = 1.4). Both LCHF (p = 0.008, d = 1.9) and LEA (p = 0.01, d = 1.7) had significantly higher CTX pre-exercise to 3 hours post-exercise but only LCHF showed lower P1NP concentrations (p < 0.0001, d = 3.2). All markers remained unchanged from Baseline in CON. Short-term carbohydrate restriction appears to result in reduced bone formation markers at rest and during exercise with further exercise-related increases in a marker of bone resorption. Bone formation markers during exercise seem to be maintained with LEA although resorption increased. In contrast, nutritional support with adequate energy and carbohydrate appears to reduce unfavorable bone turnover responses to exercise in elite endurance athletes. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Key numbers

26%

Decrease in P1NP with LCHF

Comparison of fasting P1NP levels between LCHF and control diets.

14%

Decrease in P1NP with LEA

Comparison of fasting P1NP levels between LEA and control diets.

28.0%

Increase in CTX during exercise

Comparison of CTX area under the curve between dietary groups post-exercise.

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Funding

Competing interests

The authors and funding agents do not have any conflicts of interest.

PubMed

Short-Term Low-Carb Diet Reduces Bone Building More Than Low Calorie Intake, Both at Rest and During Long Exercise

Abstract

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Abstract

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Related papers

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