Duration of Heightened Blood Ketone Levels after Consumption of a Ketone Ester Supplement Drink: Implications for Studying Performance
Abstract
Ketosis is a state that occurs when the level of ketone bodies increases, which occurs naturally during starvation or prolonged exercise. Ketosis can also be induced in humans through adherence to a ketogenic diet (i.e., low carbohydrate and high fat) or through the consumption of a ketone ester tablet or drink. Emerging research has begun to suggest that inducing ketosis through these methods can result in therapeutic outcomes in individuals with epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injury, and cognitive aging. Thus, induced ketosis may have neuroprotective qualities that can be harnessed for a range of performance outcomes. The current study represents a first step in studying the potential positive effects of ketone supplements on performance. Healthy adult participants consumed a ketone ester drink and their resulting blood ketone levels were tested for up to 3.5 hours. These results were compared to consumption of a placebo drink. Participants also rated a variety of symptoms in both conditions to assess tolerability. Results showed that blood ketone levels peaked at 30 minutes and stayed elevated at that level for up to 120 minutes before beginning to decline. At 3.5 hours post consumption, ketone levels were still significantly elevated above that of the placebo drink. These results suggest that the dose used here would be appropriate for performance research that utilizes a relatively short timeframe, i.e., on the order of hours. Future research should examine the neuroprotective factors of ketone ester supplements on operationally relevant stressors that impair performance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 28, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1097220
Entities
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton