Oral D/L-3-Hydroxybutyrate Stimulates Cholecystokinin and Insulin Secretion and Slows Gastric Emptying in Healthy Males.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Controlled clinical crossover trial without randomization specified in the abstract
PubMed 32717058 · doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaa483
What was done
Eight healthy lean male volunteers were investigated on two separate occasions comparing oral consumption of D/L-3-hydroxybutyrate (D/L-3-OHB) with matched intravenous D/L-3-OHB administration. Gastric emptying was evaluated using an acetaminophen test, and consecutive blood samples were collected to measure hormone concentrations and appetite ratings.
What was found
Compared with matched intravenous administration, oral D/L-3-OHB stimulated cholecystokinin release (P = 0.02), elevated insulin (P = 0.03) and C-peptide (P < 0.001) concentrations, and slowed gastric emptying (P = 0.01). Appetite measures, GLP-1, and GIP plasma concentrations were unaffected. The abstract reports p-values but no absolute numbers or effect sizes.
Why it matters
This indicates that oral ketone supplements activate luminal gut-sensing mechanisms and incretin effects, highlighting mechanistic differences between oral ingestion and systemic physiological ketosis.
Limits
Small sample size (n = 8) limited exclusively to healthy lean males. Randomization and blinding are not reported, and exact quantitative values for physiological changes are omitted in the abstract.
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