One important difference between KE compounds is the ketone-promoting components, which determines the circulating ratio of blood ketone bodies, BHB and AcAc, and may in turn lead to important metabolic and signaling differences. Whereas some actions of the ketone bodies BHB and AcAc are shared, R-BHB has a broad range of signaling functions that are distinct from AcAc, some of which are shared by the non-circulating, non-oxidizable enantiomer, S-BHB. AcAc also has metabolic and signaling actions that are independent of BHB and is selectively oxidized in some cells that cannot oxidize BHB. Furthermore, responses to different ketone bodies vary between tissue types. A second difference between KE arises from the balance between direct delivery of ketones compared to indirectly elevating ketone concentration via metabolism of non-classical or classical ketogenic precursors. Classical ketogenesis itself may drive adaptation and some of the functional benefits associated with ketosis. BDO is included in all of the KE compounds, but it is currently unknown how consumption of BDO alone, and its metabolism via non-classical ketogenesis acutely affects metabolism. Additionally, ketogenesis is now understood to occur in certain cells outside the liver with important local biological effects, for example ketogenesis driven by medium chain fatty acids has been reported in astrocytes in vitro. Provision of systemic BHB by a KE may elicit different biological effects in some tissues such as the brain versus promoting in situ ketogenesis in that tissue. Overall, not only are functional effects of KE incompletely defined, but also it is unknown which effects are common to all KE versus which are specific to an individual KE compound (i.e., BHB Monoester vs AcAc Diester) or which may be attributable to the BDO precursor common to all of the KE. This study will be the first comparative full crossover study of all available KE and the precursor BDO at two serving sizes. Outcomes will focus on established effects of the BHB Monoester (including the effects on ketones, glucose and acid-base balance) and compare these with the effects of the AcAc Diester, C8 Ketonef Diester and BDO.
Age range
20 Years – 30 Years
Sex
MALE
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A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Total Plasma Ketone AUC
Timeframe: Up to ~ 4 weeks