title: Effects of exogenous ketone supplementation on blood ketone, glucose, triglyceride, and lipoprotein levels in Sprague-Dawley rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nutritional ketosis induced by the ketogenic diet (KD) has therapeutic applications for many disease states. We hypothesized that oral administration of exogenous ketone supplements could produce sustained nutritional ketosis (>0.5 mM) without carbohydrate restriction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested the effects of 28-day administration of five ketone supplements on blood glucose, ketones, and lipids in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The supplements included: 1,3-butanediol (BD), a sodium/potassium β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB) mineral salt (BMS), medium chain triglyceride oil (MCT), BMS + MCT 1:1 mixture, and 1,3 butanediol acetoacetate diester (KE). Rats received a daily 5-10 g/kg dose of their respective ketone supplement via intragastric gavage during treatment. Weekly whole blood samples were taken for analysis of glucose and βHB at baseline and, 0.5, 1, 4, 8, and 12 h post-gavage, or until βHB returned to baseline. At 28 days, triglycerides, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exogenous ketone supplementation caused a rapid and sustained elevation of βHB, reduction of glucose, and little change to lipid biomarkers compared to control animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the efficacy and tolerability of oral exogenous ketone supplementation in inducing nutritional ketosis independent of dietary restriction.
authors: Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC8, Tampa, FL 33612 USA.
authors: Shannon L
authors: SL
authors: Kesl
authors: Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC8, Tampa, FL 33612 USA.
authors: Angela M
authors: AM
authors: Poff
authors: Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC8, Tampa, FL 33612 USA.
authors: Nathan P
authors: NP
authors: Ward
authors: Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC8, Tampa, FL 33612 USA.
authors: Tina N
authors: TN
authors: Fiorelli
authors: Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC8, Tampa, FL 33612 USA.
authors: Csilla
authors: C
authors: Ari
authors: Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC8, Tampa, FL 33612 USA.
authors: Ashley J
authors: AJ
authors: Van Putten
authors: Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC8, Tampa, FL 33612 USA.
authors: Jacob W
authors: JW
authors: Sherwood
authors: Savind Inc, 205 South Main Street, Seymore, IL 61875 USA.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Arnold
authors: Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC8, Tampa, FL 33612 USA.
authors: Dominic P
authors: DP
authors: D'Agostino
keywords: Appetite; Hyperketonemia; Ketogenic diet; Ketone ester; Ketone supplement; Triglycerides; β-hydroxybutyrate