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Novel ketone diet enhances physical and cognitive performance

Abstract:

Ketone bodies are the most energy-efficient fuel and yield more ATP per mole of substrate than pyruvate and increase the free energy released from ATP hydrolysis. Elevation of circulating ketonesviahigh-fat, lowcarbohydrate diets has been used for the treatment of drug-refractory epilepsy and for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease. Ketones may also be beneficial for muscle and brain in times of stress, such as endurance exercise. The challenge has been to raise circulating ketone levels by using a palatable diet without altering lipid levels. We found that blood ketone levels canbe increased and cholesterol and triglycerides decreased by feeding rats a novel ketone ester diet: chow that is supplemented with (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate as 30% of calories. For 5 d, rats on the ketone diet ran 32% further on a treadmill than did control rats that ate an isocaloric diet that was supplemented with either corn starch or palm oil (P<0.05). Ketone-fed rats completed an 8-arm radial maze test 38% faster than did those on the other diets, making more correct decisions before making a mistake (P<0.05). Isolated, perfused hearts from rats that were fed the ketone diet had greater free energy available from ATP hydrolysis during increased work than did hearts from rats on the other diets as shown by using [31P]-NMR spectroscopy. The novel ketone diet, therefore, improved physical performance and cognitive function in rats, and its energy-sparing properties suggest that it may help to treat a range of human conditions with metabolic abnormalities.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1096/fj.201600773R

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Physiology Anatomy & Genetics
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Physiology Anatomy & Genetics
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Biochemistry
Role:
Author


Publisher:
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Journal:
FASEB Journal More from this journal
Publication date:
2016-08-01
Acceptance date:
2016-08-08
DOI:
ISSN:
1530-6860


Keywords:
Pubs id:
pubs:656072
UUID:
uuid:58ea8427-bb29-43fa-83f4-62ef132e1657
Local pid:
pubs:656072
Source identifiers:
656072
Deposit date:
2016-11-01

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