One subject withdrew from the study due to injury. Figure 1 Scheme of the experimental protocol. Diet Before the start of the study, each athlete was given a detailed list containing the foods permitted and prohibited in a ketogenic diet. The diet consumed was primarily made of beef and veal,

poultry, fish, raw and cooked green vegetables without restriction, cold cuts (dried beef, Selleck RepSox carpaccio and cured ham), eggs and seasoned cheese (e.g. parmesan). The drinks allowed were infusion tea, moka coffee and the herbal extracts. The foods and drinks PI3K inhibitor that

GSK458 in vitro athletes avoided included alcohol, bread, pasta, rice, milk, yogurt, soluble tea and barley coffee. In addition to facilitate the adhesion to the nutritional regime, each athlete was given a variety of speciality meals constituted principally of protein and fiber These meals (TISANOREICA® by Gianluca Mech SpA, Asigliano Veneto, Vicenza, Italy) which are composed of high quality protein (equivalent to 18 grams/portion) and virtually zero carbohydrate (but that mimic their taste) were included in the standard ration [16, 24]. Both the foods mentioned in the list and the standard ration could be consumed

during the same meal and VLCKD was taken by athletes ad libitum. During the VLCK diet, the athletes also consumed some specific herbal extracts: 20 ml of extract A, 20 ml of extract B and 50 ml of extract C as described in Tables 1 and 2. Moreover, during ketogenic diet periods, athletes assumed 1 caplet in of a multivitamin-mineral supplement each morning ([19, 25, 26]. The composition of the caplets was: Magnesium19 mg, Calcium Protirelin 16 mg, Phosphorus 8 mg, Zinc 4.5 mg, Iron 4.62 mg, Manganese 1 mg, Potassium 0.5 mg, Copper 0.4 mg, Chromium 28.55 μg, Selenium 4 μg, Niacin 10 mg, Beta carotene 1.8 mg, Folic Acid 66 μg, Biotin 30 μg, Vitamin C 19.8 mg, Vitamin E 3.3 mg, Pantothenic Acid 1.98 mg, Vitamin B6 0.66 mg, Vitamin B2 0.53 mg, Vitamin B1 0.426 mg, Vitamin D3 1.65 μg, Vitamin B12 0.33 μg (Multivitaminico Balestra e Mech, Gianluca Mech SpA, Asigliano Veneto VI).