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Effects of Acute Ketone Supplementation on the Brain (KETO-BRAIN)

16 de julho de 2026 atualizado por: Christopher Crabtree

Effects of Acute Ketone Supplementation on the Brain [KETO-BRAIN]

The purpose of this study is to determine how a ketone ester supplement affects brain function, brain blood flow, and brain metabolism in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Ketones are naturally produced by the body during periods of fasting or carbohydrate restriction and serve as an alternative fuel source for the brain. Researchers are interested in whether increasing blood ketone levels through supplementation can alter brain activity and blood flow in ways that may support healthy brain function.

Participants will consume a ketone ester supplement and a placebo in separate study visits. Brain imaging, blood measurements, and cognitive testing will be used to evaluate the effects of each intervention. Findings from this study will help researchers better understand how ketones influence the healthy aging brain and may provide preliminary data for future studies in populations at risk for cognitive decline.

Visão geral do estudo

Status

Recrutamento

Condições

Intervenção / Tratamento

Descrição detalhada

Alzheimer's disease and other age-related neurodegenerative conditions are associated with changes in brain energy metabolism that can occur years before symptoms develop. One of the earliest findings in these conditions is reduced utilization of glucose by certain brain regions. Ketones, including beta-hydroxybutyrate, can serve as an alternative fuel source for the brain and may help support brain metabolism when glucose utilization is impaired. Experimental evidence also suggests ketones may influence cerebral blood flow, neurotransmitter balance, and functional brain connectivity.

Despite growing interest in ketone supplementation, the acute effects of ketone esters on multiple aspects of human brain function have not been comprehensively evaluated. This study will investigate whether acute ketone ester ingestion alters cerebral blood flow, brain neurochemistry, resting-state brain connectivity, and cognitive performance in healthy adults.

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Participants will complete two intervention periods, receiving a ketone ester supplement during one period and a calorie-matched placebo during the other. The order of interventions will be randomized and separated by a washout period of 3 to 7 days. Participants will consume study beverages for two days prior to each testing session and will undergo detailed testing following an overnight fast.

At each testing visit, participants will provide fingerstick blood samples to measure ketone and glucose concentrations, complete standardized cognitive testing, and undergo advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Brain imaging will include arterial spin labeling (ASL) to evaluate cerebral blood flow, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to assess brain metabolite and neurotransmitter concentrations, and functional MRI (fMRI) to assess resting-state brain network connectivity. Cardiac MRI measures will also be collected to explore relationships between cardiovascular and cerebrovascular responses.

The primary goal is to determine whether acute ketone supplementation changes cerebral blood flow, brain metabolite concentrations, and functional brain connectivity compared with placebo. Secondary analyses will evaluate relationships between blood ketone concentrations, imaging measures, and cognitive performance. Results from this pilot study will provide important mechanistic information regarding how ketones affect the healthy aging brain and will support the development of future clinical trials in populations at risk for cognitive impairment.

The study lasts about two weeks. There are two main test days with 3-7 days in between. Each testing session will last up to 3.5 hours at most.

Tipo de estudo

Intervencional

Inscrição (Estimado)

24

Estágio

  • Não aplicável

Contactos e Locais

Esta seção fornece os detalhes de contato para aqueles que conduzem o estudo e informações sobre onde este estudo está sendo realizado.

Contato de estudo

Locais de estudo

Critérios de participação

Os pesquisadores procuram pessoas que se encaixem em uma determinada descrição, chamada de critérios de elegibilidade. Alguns exemplos desses critérios são a condição geral de saúde de uma pessoa ou tratamentos anteriores.

Critérios de elegibilidade

Idades elegíveis para estudo

  • Adulto
  • Adulto mais velho

Aceita Voluntários Saudáveis

Sim

Descrição

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age ≥45 years and ≤65 years
  2. Able to comply with study requirements including presenting for each test session following an overnight fast and not following a ketogenic diet during the duration of the study.
  3. BMI between 18.5 and 30 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Non-English Speaking
  2. Currently taking a ketone ester supplement, ketone salt supplement, or on a ketogenic diet
  3. Pregnancy, a urine pregnancy test will be given to all women before scanning to confirm nonpregnant status
  4. Currently breastfeeding
  5. Allergies to components in the test products, including milk protein, and not lactose intolerant
  6. History of high blood pressure
  7. History of alcoholism (previous 2 years)
  8. History of illicit drug use
  9. History of head trauma involving loss of consciousness or skull fracture
  10. Diagnosed neurological disease
  11. Taking psychiatric prescriptive medications (antipsychotics, antidepressants, or barbiturates) or over-the-counter (OTC) medications (other than those taken as nutritional supplements for non-therapeutic indications)
  12. Current smoker
  13. Currently consuming a habitual ketogenic diet, or was consuming a habitual ketogenic diet in the past three months
  14. Any condition or material in the body that is a contraindication for MRI procedures

Plano de estudo

Esta seção fornece detalhes do plano de estudo, incluindo como o estudo é projetado e o que o estudo está medindo.

Como o estudo é projetado?

Detalhes do projeto

  • Finalidade Principal: Ciência básica
  • Alocação: Randomizado
  • Modelo Intervencional: Atribuição cruzada
  • Mascaramento: Solteiro

Armas e Intervenções

Grupo de Participantes / Braço
Intervenção / Tratamento
Comparador Ativo: Ketone Supplement drink
Drink contains 25 g of C8 Diester , 50g consumed total per day using split dose
Suplemento dietético: Ketone Ester Drink

The ketone ester beverage contains 25 g of C8 Diester emulsified in a matrix of water, whey protein concentrate, modified gum acacia, natural and artificial flavors and cocoa powder. It contains 210 kcal, 0.5 g fat, 2 g carbohydrates, and 2 g protein. Dose consumed is 50 g, 2 times per day for 2 days.

The placebo (PL) will be calorie and volume matched to the KE and be formulated with standard dietary ingredients.
Comparador de Placebo: Placebo Drink
Drink contains no ketones, kcal and volume matched
Suplemento dietético: Placebo
The placebo drink will be calorie and volume matched to the KE and be formulated with standard dietary ingredients.

O que o estudo está medindo?

Medidas de resultados primários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Cerebral Blood Flow
Prazo: Acute response following 2-day lead in
To detect a clinically meaningful difference in cerebral blood flow (CBF) between ketone ester and placebo conditions in healthy adults
Acute response following 2-day lead in
Brain Glutamate Concentration
Prazo: Acute response following 2-day lead in
To detect a difference in brain glutamate concentration (mM) between ketone ester and placebo conditions in healthy adults, measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS).
Acute response following 2-day lead in
Brain GABA Concentration
Prazo: Acute response following 2-day lead in
To detect a difference in brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration (mM) between ketone ester and placebo conditions in healthy adults, measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS).
Acute response following 2-day lead in
Brain Lactate Concentration
Prazo: Acute response following 2-day lead in
To detect a difference in brain lactate concentration (mM) between ketone ester and placebo conditions in healthy adults, measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS).
Acute response following 2-day lead in
Brain Choline Concentration
Prazo: Acute response following 2-day lead in
To detect a difference in brain choline concentration (mM) between ketone ester and placebo conditions in healthy adults, measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS).
Acute response following 2-day lead in
Brain N-Acetylaspartate (NAA) Concentration
Prazo: Acute response following 2-day lead in
To detect a difference in brain N-acetylaspartate (NAA) concentration (mM) between ketone ester and placebo conditions in healthy adults, measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS).
Acute response following 2-day lead in
Brain Glucose Concentration
Prazo: Acute response following 2-day lead in
To detect a difference in brain glucose concentration (mM) between ketone ester and placebo conditions in healthy adults, measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS).
Acute response following 2-day lead in
Brain Beta-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB) Concentration
Prazo: Acute response following 2-day lead in
To detect a difference in brain beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration (mM) between ketone ester and placebo conditions in healthy adults, measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS).
Acute response following 2-day lead in
Functional Brain Connectivity
Prazo: Acute response following 2-day lead in
Change in resting-state brain network connectivity measured using blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI).
Acute response following 2-day lead in
Brain Acetoacetate Concentration
Prazo: Acute response following 2-day lead in
To detect a difference in brain acetoacetate concentration (mM) between ketone ester and placebo conditions in healthy adults, measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS).
Acute response following 2-day lead in
Brain Glutamine Concentration
Prazo: Acute response following 2-day lead in
To detect a difference in brain glutamine concentration (mM) between ketone ester and placebo conditions in healthy adults, measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS).
Acute response following 2-day lead in

Medidas de resultados secundários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Blood Ketone Concentration
Prazo: Acute response following 2-day lead in
Blood beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations measured by fingerstick testing.
Acute response following 2-day lead in
Blood Glucose Concentration
Prazo: Acute response following 2-day lead in
Blood glucose concentrations measured by fingerstick testing.
Acute response following 2-day lead in
Cognitive Performance (RBANS Total Scale Score)
Prazo: Acute response following 2-day lead in
Total Scale Score on the RBANS, comparing ketone ester and placebo conditions in healthy adults.
Acute response following 2-day lead in

Colaboradores e Investigadores

É aqui que você encontrará pessoas e organizações envolvidas com este estudo.

Patrocinador

Christopher Crabtree

Datas de registro do estudo

Essas datas acompanham o progresso do registro do estudo e os envios de resumo dos resultados para ClinicalTrials.gov. Os registros do estudo e os resultados relatados são revisados ​​pela National Library of Medicine (NLM) para garantir que atendam aos padrões específicos de controle de qualidade antes de serem publicados no site público.

Datas Principais do Estudo

Início do estudo (Real)

15 de junho de 2026

Conclusão Primária (Estimado)

1 de dezembro de 2029

Conclusão do estudo (Estimado)

1 de dezembro de 2029

Datas de inscrição no estudo

Enviado pela primeira vez

13 de julho de 2026

Enviado pela primeira vez que atendeu aos critérios de CQ

16 de julho de 2026

Primeira postagem (Real)

17 de julho de 2026

Atualizações de registro de estudo

Última Atualização Postada (Real)

17 de julho de 2026

Última atualização enviada que atendeu aos critérios de controle de qualidade

16 de julho de 2026

Última verificação

1 de julho de 2026

Mais Informações

Termos relacionados a este estudo

Palavras-chave

Outros números de identificação do estudo

  • STUDY20251460

Plano para dados de participantes individuais (IPD)

Planeja compartilhar dados de participantes individuais (IPD)?

INDECISO

Descrição do plano IPD

Decision on data sharing not yet finalized.

Informações sobre medicamentos e dispositivos, documentos de estudo

Estuda um medicamento regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA

Não

Estuda um produto de dispositivo regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA

Não

Essas informações foram obtidas diretamente do site clinicaltrials.gov sem nenhuma alteração. Se você tiver alguma solicitação para alterar, remover ou atualizar os detalhes do seu estudo, entre em contato com register@clinicaltrials.gov. Assim que uma alteração for implementada em clinicaltrials.gov, ela também será atualizada automaticamente em nosso site .

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