Targeted Assessment of Cognition and Tactical-performance With Ingested Ketones (TACTIK)

August 29, 2026 updated by: Michael J. Ormsbee, Florida State University

The goal of this study is to determine whether consuming a commercially available exogenous ketone supplement (KetoneIQ®) affects cognition, specifically marksmanship, under physical stress (i.e., exhaustive exercise).

The main questions we seek to answer are:

  • Does the supplement save cognitive performance under stress compared to a placebo?
  • Does the supplement improve marksmanship under stress compared to a placebo?

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

In this study, 20 active SWAT team members will be randomized into two groups: Exogenous Ketone Supplement (EKS) and Placebo (PLA).

Participants will complete the trial in a crossover manner (meaning each participant will complete both EKS and PLA conditions)

Our primary outcome of interest is changes in cognitive performance following an exhaustive exercise bout. Secondary outcomes include: changes in marksmanship accuracy and speed, and changes in select biomarkers (catecholamines, cortisol, and BDNF).

Although ketone supplements are marketed for energy and cognitive performance, little is known about how they affect biological markers during stressful environments. Findings from this study may help inform safe, evidence-based use of such supplements among tactical athletes.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

20

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

  • Name: Michael J Ormsbee, PhD
  • Phone Number: 850-644-2194
  • Email: mormsbee@fsu.edu

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Florida
      • Tallahassee, Florida, United States, 32306
        • Recruiting
        • Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Michael J Ormsbee, PhD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Connor R McKay
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Andrew P Koutnik, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Active Member of an accredited Law Enforcement Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT)
  • Health and capable of meeting testing requirements

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Following a low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet
  • Self-reported Pregnancy
  • Allergy to testing materials
  • Currently using exogenous ketone supplements within one week of testing

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: KetoneIQ®
Supplement of study. KetoneIQ® dosed at 0.6g/kg body weight
Dietary supplement: KetoneIQ®
Acute dosage at 0.6g/kg of bodyweight, split into 2 boluses of 0.4 and 0.2g/kg seperated by 45 mins
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Flavor, texture, color matched. Very low calorie.
Dietary supplement: Placebo
Taste, texture, and color matched very low calorie placebo

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cognitive Performance
Time Frame: Baseline (minute 0) to Post Suppelementation (minute 45) to Post Exercise (minute 60)
Changes in Score for the Trail Making Test, Psychomotor Vigilance Test, and Flanker Test.
Baseline (minute 0) to Post Suppelementation (minute 45) to Post Exercise (minute 60)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes in Circulating Concentration of Brain Derieved Neurotrophic Factor
Time Frame: Baseline (minute 0) to post supplementation (minute 45) to post exercise (minute 60)
To assess changes in BDNF from baseline to post supplementation to post exercise
Baseline (minute 0) to post supplementation (minute 45) to post exercise (minute 60)
Changes in Circulating Catecholamines Concetrations
Time Frame: From baseline (minute 0) to post supplemenation (minute 45) to post exercise (minute 60)
To assess changes in the circulating concentration of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine
From baseline (minute 0) to post supplemenation (minute 45) to post exercise (minute 60)
Changes in Circulating Cortisol Concentration
Time Frame: From baseline (minute 0) to post supplemetation (minute 45) to post exercise (minute 60)
To assess changes in circulating cortisol between groups
From baseline (minute 0) to post supplemetation (minute 45) to post exercise (minute 60)
Weapons Familarization Score
Time Frame: Post Exercise (minute 60)
To assess whether potentially improved cognitive performance translates to tactical-specific tasks. Rifle disassembly, reassembly, and functions check. This will be quantified by number of errors and time to completion
Post Exercise (minute 60)
Marksmanship efficiency
Time Frame: Post Exercise (minute 60)
To determine whether potentially improved cognitive performance translates to live-round marksmanship. Using HIT Factor scoring (an aggregate of accuracy and time to completion, where a higher number is better), we will assess both accuracy and speed to completion for a shuttle fire drill
Post Exercise (minute 60)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Florida State University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Michael J Ormsbee, PhD, Florida State University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 10, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

August 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 2, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 29, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • STUDY00007647: TACTIK
  • FP00009695 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Health Via Modern Nutrition)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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