Exogenous Ketones Lower Post-Exercise Acyl-Ghrelin And Glp-1 But Do Not Impact Ad Libitum Energy Intake

Ketosis and exercise are both associated with alterations in perceived appetite and modification of appetite-regulating hormones. This study utilized a ketone ester (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (KE) to examine the impact of elevated ketone body D-beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta HB) during and after a bout of exercise on appetite-related hormones, appetite perception, and ad libitum energy intake over a 2 h post-exercise period. In a randomized crossover trial, 13 healthy males and females (age: 23.6 +/- 2.4 years; body mass index: 25.7 +/- 3.2 kg center dot m(-2)) completed an exercise session @ 70% VO2peak for 60 min on a cycling ergometer and consumed either: (1) Ketone monoester (KET) (0.5 g center dot kg(-1) pre-exercise + 0.25 g center dot kg(-1) post-exercise); or (2) isocaloric dextrose control (DEX). Transient ketonaemia was achieved with beta HB concentrations reaching 5.0 mM (range 4.1-6.1 mM) during the post-exercise period. Relative to the dextrose condition, acyl-ghrelin (P = 0.002) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (P = 0.038) were both reduced by acute ketosis immediately following exercise. AUC for acyl-ghrelin was lower in KET compared to DEX (P = 0.001), however there were no differences in AUC for GLP-1 (P = 0.221) or PYY (P = 0.654). Perceived appetite (hunger, P = 0.388; satisfaction, P = 0.082; prospective food consumption, P = 0.254; fullness, P = 0.282) and 2 h post-exercise ad libitum energy intake (P = 0.488) were not altered by exogenous ketosis. Although KE modifies homeostatic regulators of appetite, it does not appear that KE acutely alters energy intake during the post-exercise period in healthy adults.