What's the research behind Ketone-IQ?

Updated by Chrissy Rojas

There is a wealth of knowledge and evidence, growing rapidly, about the benefits of raising your blood ketone levels. As discussed here, the most optimal range of Ketones is 1.0 - 2.5 mmol/L, and Ketone-IQ® is the most effective and cost-efficient way to raise ketones into the zone for an extended period of time, capitalizing on the below benefits with industry-leading efficiency.

The below summarizes data across many studies, looking at both the acute and chronic effects of raising ketone levels, by means of both Endogenous Ketosis (e.g. Keto Diet or endurance exercise) and Exogenous Ketosis (e.g. Ketone Supplements like Ketone-IQ®).

Cognitive Performance Benefits

While ketones are able to fuel all cells throughout body, they are especially helpful and significant for the brain. The brain is our central governor, impacting every aspect of our lives, and it has an enormous energy demand. However, it’s not able use fat directly for fuel, as fats can’t cross the selectively permeable blood-brain-barrier.

Thus, your brain predominantly fuels with either Ketones (taken as a supplement or produced via fat breakdown) and/or Glucose.

In today’s sedentary lifestyle and with the standard Western diet, most humans fuel their brain through Glucose almost exclusively.

However, research shows that Ketones are a more optimal fuel for your brain. Compared to glucose, the metabolism of ketones generates 28% more ATP per gram—meaning they’re more efficient, and your brain is getting more “bang for its buck” when using ketones.

Thus, Ketones are the key to optimal brain performance, both alone (through either ketone supplementation in the absence of carbohydrate, or endogenously, e.g. through a “Keto Diet”) and also when combined with carbohydrates (e.g. through ketone supplementation as duel-fuel approach), as detailed in studies below.

Cognition, focus, and mental clarity

  1. Even when glucose is available, ketones can power up to 80% of the brain's energy needs. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5926444/
  2. Ketones significantly improved cognitive performance by 7%. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34605026/
  3. Ketones may improve focus by increasing conversion of glutamate to GABA. More GABA can mean dulling the negative reactions associated with anxiety, stress and fear, thus improving focus. Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9778572
  4. Keto Diet increases brain mitochondria (known as mitochondrial biogenesis) and mitochondrial energy dynamics. Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell, so more and stronger brain mitochondria means a more robust brain that can produce and utilize more energy. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30027365/
  5. Ketones increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) This protein helps grow neurons, promote synaptic connections, and support long-term brain health, learning, and memory. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28583851/
  6. A new Ketone-IQ® research study was recently completed at a top US senior military university (University of North Georgia) — while the data is yet to be published (coming soon March 2023), the findings show supplementation of H.V.M.N. Ketone-IQ may have a significant effect on mental resilience and strength.
  7. Rats fed ketones completed a radial maze test 38% faster than did those on the other diets, and made more correct decisions before making a mistake. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27528626/

Mitigate cognitive decline in stressful situations, like after intense exercise and in hypoxia

  1. Ketone supplements mitigate the loss of function after exhausting exercise, suggesting consuming ketones before exercise will lower fatigue index & help you stay more alert, for longer. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29944604/
  2. Ketone supplements can mitigate cognitive decline during hypoxia. Thus, consuming ketones can help you stay more alert, longer in a hypoxic state. ****Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34503629/

    [Hypoxia is low levels of oxygen in your body tissues, causing confusion, bluish skin, and changes in breathing and heart rate. (Ie. high or low altitudes, drowning, pneumonia, extremes of environmental temperatures etc.)]

    This study led to H.V.M.N.’s $6 million Phase II STTR Research Contract with the US DOD SOCOM. While the results of this contract are not yet published, data shows yet again that Ketone Supplementation significantly mitigates cognitive decline during hypoxia.

Protect the brain and improve performance in disease, neurodegeneration, trauma, and aging

  1. Ketones (both endogenous and exogenous alike) may protect the aging brain from cognitive decline and conditions like dementia, by stabilizing the brain networks by 87%. Link: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1913042117
  2. Ketones, taken with Lactate, are a promising therapy for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Neurodegenerative Conditions. Link: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2022.846183/full
  3. Ketones are promising to delay the onset of Alzheimers disease, as cognitively impaired subjects on both an MCT-rich Ketogenic diet and on Low Carbohydrate diets were able to regain cognitive function and enhance memory.
  4. Ketogenic diet improved scores in Parkinsons’ Patients. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15728303/
  5. Ketones may reduce epileptic seizure frequency by 40%–90%. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17304346/
  6. Ketones improved function in Children with multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD), a disorder of fatty acid and amino acid oxidation. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12727399/
  7. Ketones improved motor coordination, learning and memory, and synaptic plasticity in mice with Angelman’s Syndrome. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27546058/

Physical Performance Benefits

Many of the benefits of ketones in athletic contexts are associated with their benefits on cognition, as discussed above. Think about it - the brain is your body’s central governor. If you’re thinking better, you’re going to perform better. This can mean objectively better reaction times, reduced fatigue, improved rate of Perceived Exertion - you name it. Below are only a fraction of the available studies looking at athletic outcomes when taking ketone supplements.

These studies all look at Ketone Supplements on top of a standard carbohydrate diet. This is the dual-fuel approach - giving your body more energy for more metabolic pathways that can function simultaneously. This is why the pro athletes and biohackers alike stack Ketone Supplements on top of their regular diets. Over 60% of the Tour de France peloton fuels with H.V.M.N. Ketones on top of their regular carbohydrate load, and H.V.M.N.’s $6 million Phase II STTR Research Contract with the US DOD SOCOM supports adding H.V.M.N. Ketones into the operator’s nutritional stack to improve performance during demanding missions.

Endurance

  1. Ketones improve endurance time-trial performance in elite cyclists by 2%. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27475046/
  2. Taking ketones and bicarbonate together enhances high-intensity performance at the end of an endurance exercise event, without causing gastrointestinal distress. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32735112/
  3. Ketone Supplementation increased post-exercise serum EPO concentrations in healthy men. EPO stimulates red blood cell production, and higher levels mean potentially higher Red Blood Cell counts, which can carry more oxygen to muscles and improve performance. Thus, Ketone Supplementation may improve muscle oxygenation, which in turn improves performance. Link: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpendo.00264.2022

Power

  1. A new Ketone-IQ® research study was recently completed at a top US senior military university (University of North Georgia) — while the data is yet to be published (coming soon), the findings show supplementation of H.V.M.N. Ketone-IQ showed significant improvements in performance and decrease in fatigue.

Recovery

  1. Athletes who drank ketones for recovery and sleep over a 3-week overtraining period saw improved recovery biomarkers and a 15% increase in power output. Link: https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP277831
  2. Adding ketones to a standard post-exercise recovery beverage enhances the post-exercise activation of mTORC1, which also means protein synthesis. Protein synthesis is essential for recovery and post-exercise adaptation for better performance. Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5440563/

Metabolic Health and Appetite Benefits

The studies listed below show ways in which Ketone Supplements (taken chronically and acutely alike) can improve general health and well-being, improve biomarkers for longevity, and help people manage their metabolic and weight goals via improved appetite control.

Chronic Metabolic Health, Wellness, and Glucose Control

  1. 1,3-Butanediol reverses age-associated vascular dysfunction. It could therefore be a novel therapeutic to increase blood flow and improve the quality of life in the elderly. Link: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajpheart.00486.2021?journalCode=ajpheart
  2. 1,3-Butanediol inhibits an inflammatory response, and improves the loss of gray matter after spinal cord injury. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33192269/
  3. 1,3-Butanediol lowers blood pressure and kidney injury in female rats and could be a novel nutritional intervention for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32508113/
  4. Normally, after a meal, we see a rise in blood glucose and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). Ketone supplements reduce this usual increase in blood glucose and NEFA, suggesting its usefulness in people with insulin resistance or diabetes. Link: https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/abs/10.1139/apnm-2020-0644?journalCode=apnm
  5. Taking Ketone supplements for 14 days improves glucose control, enhances vascular function, and may reduce cellular inflammation in adults with obesity. Link: https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/106/4/1738/6052998
  6. A single dose of Ketone Supplements acutely improves metabolic control in individuals with obesity. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31599919/
  7. Many studies show that ketones may help decrease blood sugar levels and increase insulin sensitivity (A, B, C, D)

Appetite Control

  1. Ketone supplements lower plasma ghrelin levels (the hunger hormone), perceived hunger, and the desire to eat. Therefore, increased blood ketone levels may directly suppress appetite, leading to diet adherence, improvements in body composition, and improvements in other markers for metabolic health. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29105987/

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