A study at the University of Buffalo determined that runners who switched from a low-fat diet to a high-fat diet for two months improved their running performance. Additional research at the same institution has shown that endurance athletes who restrict fat tend to experience a drop in immunity and an increase in the incidence of colds and flu. According to the researchers, a diet too low in fat increases levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (a type of immune system chemical) and free radicals and inhibits levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Adding more fat can increase levels of important immune cells that fight infection. Finally, when runners ate more fat, there was no ill effect on their weight, blood pressure, or cholesterol levels.
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