Abstract
Ketone ingestion can alter metabolism but effects on exercise performance are unclear, particularly with regard to the impact on intermittent-intensity exercise and team-sport performance. Nine professional male rugby union players each completed two trials in a double-blind, randomized, crossover design. Participants ingested either 90 ± 9 g carbohydrate (CHO; 9% solution) or an energy matched solution containing 20 ± 2 g CHO (3% solution) and 590 mg/kg body mass β-hydroxybutyrate monoester (CHO + BHB-ME) before and during a simulated rugby union-specific match-play protocol, including repeated high-intensity, sprint and power-based performance tests. Mean time to complete the sustained high-intensity performance tests was reduced by 0.33 ± 0.41 s (2.1%) with CHO + BHB-ME (15.53 ± 0.52 s) compared with CHO (15.86 ± 0.80 s) placebo (p = .04). Mean time to complete the sprint and power-based performance tests were not different between trials. CHO + BHB-ME resulted in blood BHB concentrations that remained >2 mmol/L during exercise (p < .001). Serum lactate and glycerol concentrations were lower after CHO + BHB-ME than CHO (p < .05). Coingestion of a BHB-ME with CHO can alter fuel metabolism (attenuate circulating lactate and glycerol concentrations) and may improve high-intensity running performance during a simulated rugby match-play protocol, without improving shorter duration sprint and power-based efforts.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 334-341 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Early online date | 29 Apr 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2022 |
Funding
This research was partly supported by the U.K. Sport Council. The authors thank Matt Middleton and Will Owen for their assistance with supervision of trials. They also thank Nikolai Böhlke and Dr Pete Cox for supporting aspects of study concept/design. The ketone monoester studied in this work was provided in kind by TdeltaS®. TdeltaS had no role in the implementation, interpretation, or dissemination of this work. Peacock, Roberts, Smith, Drawer, and Stokes contributed toward the design of the study. Peacock led study coordination and data collection. Peacock and Gonzalez undertook data analysis and interpretation. Peacock and Gon-zalez drafted the manuscript with critical input from all authors. All authors have read and approved the final version of the article. Gonzalez is an investigator on research grants funded by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Medical Research Council (MRC), British Heart Foundation, Lucozade Ribena Suntory, ARLA Food Ingredients, and Kenniscentrum Suiker and Voeding; and has completed paid consultancy for PepsiCo and SVGC.
Keywords
- athletes
- exercise performance
- glycerol
- lactate
- team sport
- β-hydroxybutyrate
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Nutrition and Dietetics