Buck Institute launches first human clinical trial into ketone body supplementation

First study of ketone body supplementation in healthy older adults will look at ketone ester supplementation in the context of aging.

The Buck Institute for Research on Aging has launched its first human clinical trial. The BIKE (Buck Institute Ketone Ester) pilot study is the first trial in the world to look at the effects of ketone ester supplementation in the context of aging.

Thirty healthy individuals over the age of 65 will take part in a 12-week double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study to see whether benefits of ketone bodies in aging that have been observed in mice translate to human beings.

My take on this: Keto is very much a weight-loss buzzword, but the science of ketosis has much broader applications for longevity and improving healthspan. Ketones are naturally-occurring compounds made in the liver and are a byproduct of fat metabolism – meaning when your body burns fat for energy, rather than carbohydrates. Carbs are the body’s go-to for energy, so there is usually only a very small amount of ketones in the blood at any given time. However, when dietary carbohydrates (sugars in various forms) are limited, the body uses fat instead of sugar for energy.

This state of ketosis can be achieved through fasting, and ketogenic diets have become popular in recent years. But as well as weight loss, ketosis has several health benefits, including a reversal of metabolic syndrome and reduced inflammation.

Ketogenic diets have been extensively studied in mice; previous research at the Buck showed that a ketogenic diet improved healthspan and memory in aging mice, but it’s easy to control what a lab mouse eats – and harder for humans to resist the siren call of the carbohydrate. In addition, health concerns have been raised about eating high amounts of fat and limiting the intake of carbohydrates.

Enter the ketone ester supplement – able to put people into ketosis without a restrictive diet. Several clinical studies are underway testing the use of ketone esters in people with heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and memory deficits, among other conditions.

Read the full article HERE .

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