The Effects of Exogenous Ketones on Exercise Performance in Young Healthy Adults

University of British Columbia

Status: Completed

Conditions: Ketones; Dietary Supplements; Exercise

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Ketone Salt; Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02825823

H1601260

Details and patient eligibility

About

The ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate is produced during prolonged fasting or exercise and can be used as an alternative fuel source. Exogenous beta-hydroxybutyrate, in the form of a ketone salt, is proposed to have ergogenic potential for high-intensity exercise performance but this has not been adequately studied. The purpose of this study is to determine whether supplementing with an acute dose of ketone salts can alter fuel use during exercise and improve exercise performance.

Enrollment: 10 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Males aged 18-40
• Ability to understand and communicate in English to answer questionnaires and interact with the research assistant
• Physically active (defined by engaging in moderate-to-vigorous exercise at least 3 times per week, determined via validated questionnaire)

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosed with diabetes or any other medical conditions that could affect metabolism.
• Diagnosed with heart disease or taking anti-hypertensive medications.
• Competitive endurance athlete (self-identified as engaged in specific endurance training in triathlon, cycling, or distance running and competing in races or competition)
• Recent (last 3 months) or current consumption of a low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet
• Current consumption of ketone supplements
• Any other contraindication to vigorous exercise (identified via physical activity readiness questionnaire [PAR-Q])

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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10 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Ketone Salts

Experimental group

Description:

Acute dose of beta-hydroxybutyrate potassium/sodium salt (0.2g beta-hydroxybutyrate/kg, 0.01g Potassium/kg, 0.01g Sodium/kg with 1 g Steviol Glycoside and 30 ml of lemon juice per dose)

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Ketone Salt

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Acute dose of taste-matched placebo (0.01g Potassium/kg, 0.01g Sodium/kg with 1 g Steviol Glycoside and 30 ml of lemon juice per dose)

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Placebo