Effects of Ketone Monoesters on Brain Function
- Conditions
- Brain Insulin SensitivityCognitive PerformanceBrain Vascular FunctionAppetite ControlCerebral Blood Flow
- Interventions
- Dietary Supplement: Ketone MonoesterDietary Supplement: Placebo
- Registration Number
- NCT06395051
- Lead Sponsor
- Maastricht University Medical Center
- Brief Summary
Disturbances in brain insulin-sensitivity are not only observed in obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D), but also during brain aging and in dementia. Ketone monoester supplements may improve brain insulin-sensitivity, which can be quantified by measuring the gray-matter cerebral blood flow (CBF) response to intranasally administered insulin. We hypothesize that acute ketone monoester supplementation increases (regional) brain vascular function and insulin-sensitivity thereby improving cognitive performance and appetite control. The primary objective is to evaluate in older men the acute effect of ketone monoester supplementation on (regional) brain vascular function and insulin-sensitivity, as quantified by the non-invasive gold standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-perfusion method Arterial Spin Labelling (ASL). The CBF response to intranasal insulin is a robust and sensitive physiological marker of brain insulin-sensitivity. Secondary objectives are to investigate effects on cognitive performance as assessed with a neuropsychological test battery, and appetite control as quantified by functional MRI (fMRI) with visual food cues.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- Male
- Target Recruitment
- 18
- Men, aged between 60-75 years
- BMI between 25-30 kg/m2
- Fasting plasma glucose < 7.0 mmol/L
- Fasting serum TC < 8.0 mmol/L
- Fasting serum TAG < 4.5 mmol/L
- Systolic blood pressure < 160 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg
- Stable body weight (weight gain or loss < 3 kg in the past three months)
- Willingness to give up being a blood donor from 8 weeks before the start of the study, during the study and for 4 weeks after completion of the study
- No difficult venipuncture as evidenced during the screening visit
- Women
- Left-handedness
- Following a low-carbohydrate diet or consuming nutritional ketone supplements
- Current smoker, or smoking cessation < 12 months
- Diabetic patients
- Familial hypercholesterolemia
- Abuse of drugs
- More than 3 alcoholic consumptions per day
- Use of products or dietary supplements known to interfere with the main outcomes as judged by the principal investigators
- Use medication to treat blood pressure, lipid or glucose metabolism, or neurological or mental disorders.
- Use of an investigational product within another biomedical intervention trial within the previous 1-month
- Severe medical conditions that might interfere with the study, such as epilepsy, asthma, kidney failure or renal insufficiency, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, auto inflammatory diseases and rheumatoid arthritis
- Active cardiovascular disease like congestive heart failure or cardiovascular event, such as an acute myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident
- Contra-indications for MRI imaging (e.g. pacemaker, surgical clips/material in body, metal splinter in eye, claustrophobia).
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- CROSSOVER
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Experimental Ketone Monoester Ketone monoesters Placebo Placebo Taste- and volume-matched placebo
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Brain Insulin Sensitivity Change from placebo intervention at 60 minutes after supplement intake Cerebral blood flow measurements before and after a nasal insulin spray as quantified non-invasively by the MRI perfusion method Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL)
Brain Vascular Function Change from placebo intervention at 30 minutes after supplement intake Cerebral blood flow as quantified non-invasively by the MRI perfusion method Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL)
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Blood pressure Change from placebo intervention at 90 minutes after supplement intake Office blood pressure and heart rate
Ketone metabolism During 120 minutes following supplement intake Circulating beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations
Glucose metabolism During 120 minutes following supplement intake Circulating glucose and insulin concentrations
Anthropometric measurements Before supplement intake Weight, length, waist and hip circumference
Appetite-related brain reward activity Change from placebo intervention at 40 minutes after supplement intake Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD)-functional MRI (fMRI) response to food cues
Brain Perfusion Change from placebo intervention at 120 minutes after supplement intake Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound will be used to assess the velocity of blood flow through the middle cerebral artery (MCA)
Appetite hormones During 120 minutes following supplement intake Circulating ghrelin concentrations
Food intake Once 120 minutes following supplement intake Food Frequency Questionnaire to assess food intake over the past month
Cognitive Performance Change from placebo intervention at 120 minutes after supplement intake Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB)
Markers related to low-grade systemic inflammation During 120 minutes following supplement intake Circulating high-sensitive C-reactive protein concentrations
Perceived hunger and satiety During 120 minutes following supplement intake Visual analogue scale (VAS) questionnaires
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Maastricht University Medical Center
🇳🇱Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands