Abstract
Acute ingestion of exogenous ketone supplements in the form of a (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (R-BD R-βHB) ketone monoester (KME) can attenuate declines in oxygen availability during hypoxic exposure and might impact cognitive performance at rest and in response to moderate-intensity exercise. In a single-blind randomized crossover design, 16 males performed assessments of cognitive performance before and during hypoxic exposure with moderate exercise [2×20min weighted ruck (∼22kg) at 3.2km/h at 10% incline] in a normobaric altitude chamber (4572m, 11.8% O2). The R-BD R-βHB KME (573mg/kg) or a calorie- and taste-matched placebo (∼50g maltodextrin) were co-ingested with 40g of dextrose before exposure to hypoxia. The R-βHB concentrations were rapidly elevated and sustained (>3mM; P<0.001) by KME. The decline in oxygen saturation during hypoxic exposure was attenuated in KME conditions by 2.4%-4.2% (P<0.05) compared with placebo. Outcomes of cognitive performance tasks, in the form of the Defense Automated Neurobehavioral Assessment (DANA) code substitution task, the Stroop color and word task, and a shooting simulation, did not differ between trials before and during hypoxic exposure. These data suggest that the acute exogenous ketosis induced by KME ingestion can attenuate declining blood oxygen saturation during acute hypoxic exposure both at rest and during moderate-intensity exercise, but this did not translate into differences in cognitive performance before or after exercise in the conditions investigated. HIGHLIGHTS: What is the central question of this study? Can exogenous ketosis act as a countermeasure to declines in blood oxygen saturation and cognitive performance during acute hypoxic exposure while performing a weighted ruck exercise? What is the main finding and its importance? Acute exogenous ketosis via ingestion of a drink containing the (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate ketone monoester prior to acute hypoxic exposure attenuated hypoxia-induced declines in blood oxygen saturation but had no effect on cognitive performance during exercise.
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