Cognitive Function, Exercise, Ketosis, Skeletal Muscle, Ultra-endurance Running
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of oral ketone administration during and immediately after an ultramarathon. Potential changes in cognitive function (reaction time, number of errors), running performance, jump height, skeletal muscle inflammatory infiltration and hormonal alterations will be the main focus. In this context, subjects (n=24) will perform a 100km ultrarunning trail, while receiving either ketone ester (KE, n =12) or placebo (CON, n=12). Experimental measurements will be performed immediately before and after the ultramarathon as well as 24h after the ultramarathon.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTKetone ester
Subjects receive the ketone ester at the following timepoints: 25g before ultrarun, 12.5g every 30 min during race, 25g immediately after race, 25g before sleep, 3 x 25g on day after race.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPlacebo
Subjects receive a non-caloric taste-matched placebo (water with sucrose octaacetate)
Sponsors
KU Leuven
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 55 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Males between 18 and 55 years old * Recreational or competitive runner having performed an ultramarathon (\>42km) during the last 2 years * Good health status confirmed by a medical screening * Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 25
Exclusion criteria
* Any kind of injury/pathology that is a contra-indication to perform ultra-endurance exercise * Intake of any medication or nutritional supplement that is known to affect exercise performance * Intake of analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents, or supplementary anti-oxidants, from 2 weeks prior to the start of the study. * Blood donation within 3 months prior to the start of the study * Smoking * More than 3 alcoholic beverages per day * Current participation in another research trial * Any other argument to believe that the subject is unlikely to successfully complete the full study protocol * Adherence to a high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (less than 20% of energy intake derived from carbohydrates)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reaction time | Before race - immediately after race | Change in reaction time during a reaction time task |
| Countermovent jump | Before race - immediately after race - 48 hours after start of race | Change in countermovement jump height |
| Exercise performance | Immediately after race | Time needed to complete the ultrarun |
| Skeletal muscle inflammatory cell infiltration | Before race - 48 hours after start of race | Change in infiltration of inflammatory cells in skeletal muscle |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Catecholamines in blood | Before race - immediately after race - 48 hours after start of race | Change in catecholamine concentration in plasma |
Countries
Belgium
Outcome results
None listed