Acute oral intake of beta-hydroxybutyrate in a pilot study transiently increased its capillary levels in healthy volunteers

Abstract

The popularity of ketogenic diets has led to an increased interest in alternative approaches to inducing and sustaining ketosis. However, published information on the impact of exogenous ketone products in human subjects is lacking. This study aimed to characterize the circulating β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB) response in healthy men and women (n=10) following acute consumption of βHB salts. In a randomized, cross-over design, participants consumed placebo control or a combination of sodium and calcium βHB salts providing either 11.7g (full dose) or 5.85g (half dose) of βHB, with a wash-out period between intakes. Blood levels of βHB and glucose were measured and vital signs and adverse events were monitored over the following 4hours. Consumption of 11.7g βHB led to a significant increase in circulating βHB levels above 1 mmol/L within 15minutes compared with the placebo. Intake of the 5.85g of βHB led to increases in βHB levels between the full dose and the placebo. The rise in βHB was comparable to that seen in physiological ketogenic situations such as when following a ketogenic diet or periods of fasting, and did not approach the range seen with pathological conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis. Blood glucose or blood pressure was not adversely impacted during the treatment period. Pulse was seen to modestly but significantly decrease with consumption of the full dose βHB. In conclusion, consumption of 11.7g βHB can lead to transient increases in capillary βHB in line with thresholds seen in nutritional ketosis conditions.