Ketones and Muscle Protein Synthesis

Summary

Ketones are natural substances normally produced by the body during prolonged fasting and starvation, or in response to a "ketogenic" diet to be used as fuel by the brain and muscles. Ketones are therefore similar to dietary proteins, carbohydrates and fats since they represent a source of energy for the body. In addition to serving as a source of energy, ketones have also been shown to stimulate increased rates of muscle protein synthesis in humans.

The ingestion of dietary protein is well established to stimulate an increase in the rate of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle. The rate of muscle protein synthesis can be maximized following the intake of 20g of protein. As a result, smaller doses of protein (i.e. 10g) represent a sub-optimal dose of protein because there is still room for improvement concerning muscle protein synthesis.

Recently ketone-containing food products have become available that elevate ketone levels in the body without the need for ketogenic diets or prolonged fasting. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to measure skeletal muscle protein synthesis rates after ingesting the following:

1. Ketone monoester
2. Ketone monoester supplemented with sub-optimal dose of whey protein
3. Sub-optimal dose of whey protein

It is hypothesized that muscle protein synthesis rates will increase following the ingestion of a ketone-containing beverage. Further, muscle protein synthesis rates will be enhanced when the ketone-containing beverage and sub-optimal protein dose are taken together.

Conditions

• Ketosis
• Regulation of Muscle Protein Synthesis

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Ketone

* Ketone monoester supplement (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate based on participants' body weight (0.36g/kg body weight) * Isocaloric carbohydrate control: dextrose + vanilla flavouring

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Ketone + Protein

* Ketone monoester supplement (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate based on participants' body weight (0.36g/kg body weight) * 10g Whey Protein * L-\[ring-2H5\]-phenylalanine tracer (enriched to 4%)

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Protein

* Isocaloric carbohydrate control: dextrose + stevia * 10g Whey Protein * L-\[ring-2H5\]-phenylalanine tracer (enriched to 4%)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• McGill University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Tyler A Churchward-Venne, Ph.D. · McGill University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

35 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-09-21

Primary Completion

2021-05-14

Completion

2021-05-14

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations