Abstract
Background: Exogenous ketone body administration lowers circulating glucose levels but the underlying mechanisms are uncertain.
Objective: We tested the hypothesis that administration of the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) acutely increases insulin sensitivity via feedback suppression of circulating free fatty acid (FFA) levels.
Methods: In a randomized, single-blinded crossover design, 8 healthy men were studied twice with a growth hormone (GH) infusion to induce lipolysis in combination with infusion of either βOHB or saline. Each study day comprised a basal period and a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp combined with a glucose tracer and adipose tissue and skeletal muscle biopsies.
Results: βOHB administration profoundly suppressed FFA levels concomitantly with a significant increase in glucose disposal and energy expenditure. This was accompanied by a many-fold increase in skeletal muscle content of both βOHB and its derivative acetoacetate.
Conclusion: Our data unravel an insulin-sensitizing effect of βOHB, which we suggest is mediated by concomitant suppression of lipolysis.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism |
Volume | 108 |
Issue number | 3 |
Pages (from-to) | 653-664 |
Number of pages | 12 |
ISSN | 0021-972X |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2023 |
Bibliographical note
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected].Keywords
- Faculty of Science
- Ketone bodies
- β-hydroxybutyrate
- Insulin sensitivity
- Glucose metabolism
- Growth hormone
- Free fatty acids