theguerillachemist



This preliminary study was just released showing the effects of 8 healthy trained males ingesting a ketone monoester(KE) or a placebo along with a protein/glucose mixture post workout. The KE is the monoester beta-hydroxybutyrate, 1,3-butandiol. The protocol was listed as "intense one-leg glycogen-depleting exercise followed by a 5hr recovery period."

The researchers showed for the first time that those who ingested the KE resulted in a higher activation of mTORC1(a signaling protein that increases protein synthesis), as well as lowering post-exercise AMPK activation. The activation of mTOR was clearly shown by activation its downstream targets S6K1 and 4E-BP1(enzymes responsible for translation of new proteins). While exciting, this is a very preliminary finding and certain questions still need to be answered, specifically more mechanism of action, degree of increase in MPS, and does this actually translate to new muscle tissue?

More studies are needed, but this is another piece of the puzzle that might shed light onto how exactly exogenous ketones or being in nutritional ketosis can affect body composition, lean muscle mass, fat loss, exercise performance, ect. I personally have speculated that ketone bodies may affect myostatin levels due to their ability to inhibit the enzyme histone deacetylase(inhibition is known to decrease myostatin). Nevertheless, still interesting data to add to the growing stack of papers about exogenous ketones and exercise.