The Acute Effect of a Ketone Monoester Supplement on Metabolic Control in Individuals with Obesity

Abstract

OBJECTIVESTo determine whether acute ingestion of ketone monoester (KE; (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyl (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate) impacts plasma glucose and free fatty acid levels during a standard 75‐gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in individuals with obesity.METHODSFifteen participants (age = 47±10 years) with a body mass index > 27 kg/m2 and a waist circumference >88 cm (female) or >102 cm (male) took part in a randomized crossover study. After an overnight fast, participants consumed a KE supplement (DeltaG®; 0.45 ml/kg body weight) or taste‐matched placebo 30 minutes before completing a 2‐hour OGTT with blood samples collected every 15–30 minutes. Participants and study personnel performing laboratory analyses were blinded to condition.RESULTSKE acutely raised blood D‐beta‐hydroxybutyrate to an average concentration of 2.4±1.2 mM within 30 minutes with levels remaining elevated throughout the entire OGTT. Compared to placebo, KE significantly decreased glucose area under the curve (AUC; −11%, P = 0.002), glucose incremental area under the curve (AUC; −23%, P = 0.008) and non‐esterified fatty acid (AUC; −21%, P = 0.009). Insulin and C‐peptide levels increased significantly over the 30 minutes period prior to the OGTT (P = 0.001 and 0.003 respectively) but no differences in total AUCs were observed as compared to placebo. No significant changes in lactate or triglycerides were observed.CONCLUSIONIn conclusion, a KE supplement that acutely increased D‐beta‐hydroxybutyrate levels attenuated the glycemic response to an OGTT in individuals with obesity. The reduction in glycemic response was accompanied by a reduction in non‐esterified fatty acids. These results suggest that ketone ester supplements could have therapeutic potential in the management and prevention of metabolic diseases.Support or Funding InformationThis project was funded by a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Grant‐in‐Aid. JPL is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator Salary Award (MSH‐141980) and a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) Scholar Award (16890).This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.