The Impact of Ketone Monoester Intake on Post-exercise Hormonal Responses After Resistance Exercise in Young Males

Summary

This study investigates how orally ingested exogenous ketone monoester supplements affect circulating hormone concentrations in healthy young adult males after a single session of resistance exercise. Resistance exercise is known to stimulate an acute increase in the circulating concentration of various hormones that are involved in the regulation of muscle mass, including testosterone, growth hormone (GH), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).

Recently, there has been growing interest in how nutritional supplements impact these natural hormone responses at rest. One such intervention is the oral ingestion of exogenous ketone body supplements. Ketone bodies (i.e., β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB), acetoacetate (AcAc), and acetone) are naturally occurring compounds that are normally produced by the body during prolonged fasting/starvation, or in response to a "ketogenic" diet (a diet very high in fat and very low in carbohydrates). These ketone body supplements taken in the form of a ketone monoester can quickly raise blood ketone levels without needing to change your diet.

Recent research has shown that the ingestion of exogenous ketone supplements or following a 'ketogenic diet' can alter the concentration of certain hormones measured in blood samples at rest. However, the effects of ketone monoester intake on the exercise-induced elevation in circulating hormones is yet to be explored.

Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine how elevated β-HB, induced via the ingestion of the ketone monoester (R)-3-hydroxybutyl-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate, affects blood concentrations of various anabolic hormones, during post-exercise recovery in healthy young adult males, compared to a placebo drink (flavoured water).

Conditions

• Ketosis
• Blood Hormones
• Testing Effect of Intervention
• Resistance Exercise
• Ketone Body

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Ketone Monoester (KET)

Ketone monoester supplement (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate based on participants' body weight (0.36g/kg body weight). The ketone brand name: delta G Oxford Ketone Ester.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Flavour matched placebo drink (CON)

\- Flavoured water (non-caloric bitter + citrus flavours)

OTHER

Resistance Exercise

\- 5 sets of 10 repetitions of leg press and 3 sets of 12 repetitions of leg extension/leg curl 'supersets' (1 set of each back to back with no rest in between sets) at 95% of their 10-RM. Between-set rest intervals for the leg exercises will be 60 seconds.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• McGill University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Tyler Churchward-Venne, PhD · Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

40 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-01-06

Primary Completion

2025-07-27

Completion

2025-07-27

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations