Cognition
Conditions
Keywords
Exogenous Ketones, Cognition, Tactical Athlete
Brief summary
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?
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.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTKetoneIQ®
Acute dosage at 0.6g/kg of bodyweight, split into 2 boluses of 0.4 and 0.2g/kg seperated by 45 mins
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPlacebo
Taste, texture, and color matched very low calorie placebo
Sponsors
Florida State University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
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
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Performance | 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. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in Circulating Concentration of Brain Derieved Neurotrophic Factor | 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 |
| Changes in Circulating Catecholamines Concetrations | 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 |
| Changes in Circulating Cortisol Concentration | From baseline (minute 0) to post supplemetation (minute 45) to post exercise (minute 60) | To assess changes in circulating cortisol between groups |
| Weapons Familarization Score | 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 |
| Marksmanship efficiency | 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 |
Countries
United States
Contacts
CONTACTMichael J Ormsbee, PhD
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORMichael J Ormsbee, PhD
Florida State University
Outcome results
None listed