What is it?
- Ketone bodies (acetone, acetoacetate and beta-hydroxy-butyrate [ßHB]) are chemicals produced by the liver during periods of low energy or low carbohydrate availability, with high circulating levels seen during starvation, prolonged fasting and extreme carbohydrate restriction (e.g. ketogenic low carbohydrate high fat [LCHF] diets).
- ßHB is the most important ketone body (“ketone”) from a metabolic perspective and blood concentrations of 1-3 mmol/L are considered to be the optimal range for it to exert metabolic effects.1
- Ketone supplements are taken to acutely increase blood concentrations of ßHB/ ketones without the need to undertake energy or carbohydrate restrictions. A range of benefits has been proposed or investigated including:
- Direct benefit to physiological and cognitive aspects of endurance performance via fuelling mechanisms2-4
- Superior post-exercise recovery with potential use as a chronically used supplement5
- Strategic chronic or periodised use to enhance health and training adaptations6
- The first major interest in the use of oral ketone supplements in sports is attributed to work of Oxford University’s Professor Kieran Clarke, who developed a ketone ester (“DeltaG”) that was part of a campaign to prepare British athletes for the 2012 London Olympic Games. This product has also been highly used within professional road cycling teams for the benefits previously identified, as well as other claims such as appetite suppression to support body composition goals.
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