Drinking ketones may enhance heart health, according to a new study conducted by the University of Portsmouth.
A recent small-scale study from the University of Portsmouth suggests that consuming ketones can boost heart health.
This research marks the first instance where individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have been given a ketone ester drink—a supplement designed to induce ketosis—in order to observe its effects on heart health.
Ketosis is a state in which the body burns fats for energy instead of carbohydrates.
The study was prompted by the discovery that a new drug aimed at reducing sugar levels in T2D patients also appeared to reduce mortality from cardiovascular diseases. However, further investigation was necessary to understand the reasons behind this effect.
Dr. Maria Perissiou, the lead author from the School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Portsmouth, commented, “While we are still in the early stages, the results so far are promising. We observed an enhancement in cardiac efficiency among participants who consumed the ketone drink compared to those who received a placebo.”
In this trial, 13 participants consumed a ketone drink, followed by a placebo drink a week later. Their heart function was assessed 30 minutes post-consumption using non-invasive techniques, similar to ECG readings, along with ultrasound to evaluate microvascular health and infrared spectroscopy to measure blood flow to small vessels.
Dr. Perissiou remarked, “All 13 participants showed improved heart efficiency after drinking ketones, both at rest and during moderate exercise, when compared to the placebo. I am optimistic about these findings, but further studies are necessary since we only evaluated participants on the day of the trial, leaving us unaware of the long-term effects of ketone consumption.”
She added that the link between ketones and heart health was discovered somewhat unexpectedly: “This connection emerged by chance after noticing cardiovascular health improvements in diabetes patients treated with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i).”
Our bodies rely on two main energy sources: glucose and free fatty acids. Healthy individuals typically use glucose due to its efficiency, but people with diabetes often resort to free fatty acids, as their bodies struggle to convert glucose into energy due to insulin resistance.
Dr. Perissiou explained, “For diabetes patients, excess glucose can linger in the bloodstream, leading to gradual damage to blood vessels. In patients with type 2 diabetes, their hearts rely on fatty acids, which increases workload and heightens the risk of various cardiovascular diseases.”
“The SGLT2i drug was initially used to reduce glucose levels in diabetic patients, and ongoing studies indicated that it also provided heart protection. The theory suggested that the drug triggered ketosis, allowing the heart to utilize ketones and thus enhancing heart health, but supporting evidence was scarce, prompting our research to establish this association.”
