Ketone Body Infusion Abrogates Growth Hormone-Induced Lipolysis and Insulin Resistance.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized crossover trial in humans
PubMed 36240323 · doi:10.1210/clinem/dgac595
What was done
In a randomized, single-blinded crossover trial, 8 healthy men were studied on two separate occasions receiving a growth hormone infusion to induce lipolysis alongside either beta-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) or saline infusion. Assessments included a basal period, a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp with a glucose tracer, and biopsies of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle.
What was found
The abstract reports no exact numerical values or effect sizes. It reports that βOHB infusion profoundly suppressed free fatty acid levels, significantly increased glucose disposal and energy expenditure, and induced a many-fold increase in skeletal muscle content of βOHB and acetoacetate.
Why it matters
This study provides mechanistic evidence that acute exogenous ketone administration can improve insulin sensitivity during hormone-induced metabolic stress via feedback suppression of lipolysis.
Limits
The sample size was very small (n = 8) and restricted to healthy young men, limiting generalizability to females and individuals with metabolic disease. The intervention examined acute intravenous infusion during artificial growth hormone excess, which does not represent physiological or chronic nutritional ketosis. No precise quantitative data or confidence intervals were provided in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Taking exogenous ketones in a fasted state shuts down lipolysis.
- supports Exogenous ketones transiently shut down endogenous lipolysis for up to three hours.