I think it would depend on how close you are to ketosis before you start calorie restriction. And how severely you restrict. And probably a dozen other variables.

There's a lot of exciting research going on in this area but I believe that what you're hinting at is true. All of the things we know we should do, actually work. For whatever reason. Don't eat too much, go without sometimes, when you do eat, don't eat garbage, exercise on occasion, etc.