No effect of oral ketone ester supplementation on exercise capacity in patients with McArdle disease and healthy controls: A randomized placebo-controlled cross-over study

Nicoline Løkken*, Jesper H. Storgaard, Karoline L. Revsbech, Nicol C. Voermans, Gerrit Van Hall, John Vissing, Mette C. Ørngreen

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

10 Citationer (Scopus)
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Abstract

Patients with glycogen storage disease type V (GSDV), also known as McArdle disease, have blocked glycogen breakdown due to myophosphorylase deficiency, leading to exercise intolerance, muscle pain, and risk of muscle damage. Blood-derived ketone bodies (KBs) constitute an alternative energy source that could fuel the muscle independent of glycogenolysis. However, except for long-time fasting or ketogenic dieting, KBs are present in low quantities. This led us to explore the effects of a drink containing exogenously produced KBs in the form of D-β-hydroxybutyrate esters (KE) on exercise capacity and metabolism in patients with GSDV. Eight GSDV patients and four healthy controls (HC) were included in this placebo-controlled, cross-over study where subjects were randomized to receive a KE drink with 395 mgKE/kg or placebo drink on two separate days 25 min before a submaximal cycle exercise test. The primary outcome was exercise capacity as indicated by heart rate response (HR) to exercise. Secondary outcomes included perceived exertion (PE) and measures of KB, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism during exercise. In GSDV, the KE drink vs. placebo increased plasma KBs and KB oxidation (p ≤ 0.0001) but did not improve exercise capacity as judged from HR (p = 0.120) and PE (p = 0.109). In addition, the KE drink lowered plasma glucose, free fatty acids, and lowered lipolytic rate and glucose rate of appearance compared with placebo. Similar results were found in the HC group. The present study indicates that an increase in KB oxidation by oral KE supplementation does not improve exercise capacity in GSDV possibly because of KB-induced inhibition of lipolysis and liver glucose output. Thus, oral KE supplementation alone cannot be recommended as a treatment option for patients with GSDV.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftJournal of Inherited Metabolic Disease
Vol/bind45
Udgave nummer3
Sider (fra-til)502-516
Antal sider15
ISSN0141-8955
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2022

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
The author Nicol C. Voermans is a member of the Radboudumc Center of Expertise for neuromuscular disorders, Netherlands Neuromuscular Center and the European Reference Network for rare neuromuscular diseases.

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Lundbeck Foundation [grant‐number R289‐2018‐1980]. The study was investigator driven. The funding source was not involved in any aspects of the present study. Funding information

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of SSIEM.

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