Ketone monoester reduces blood glucose, exogenous CHO oxidation, and oxidation efficiency in trained male cyclists when fed 120 g/h of CHO during exercise

Journal of Applied Physiology 2026 Open access

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Authors: Henry J. Martyn, Niamh E. Cameron, JC Edmondson, Marie M. Phelan, Javier T. Gonzalez, Sam O. Shepherd, Jamie Pugh, Daniel J. Owens, James P. Morton
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01072.2025
Cited by: 2
References: 60

Abstract

To promote exercise performance, endurance athletes frequently consume CHO during exercise at ingestion rates of 90–120 g·h −1 . Here, we report for the first time that coingestion of a ketone monoester before and during prolonged cycling reduces blood glucose concentrations, exogenous CHO oxidation, and oxidation efficiency compared with CHO alone (120 g·h −1 ; 1:0.8 ratio of maltodextrin and fructose). Ketone monoester ingestion also increased plasma abundance of metabolites associated with carbohydrate metabolism (glucaric acid) and protein turnover (3-methylhistidine).

Fields of Study & Subjects

Diet and metabolism studies Muscle metabolism and nutrition Exercise and Physiological Responses

Publication details

Journal / source
Journal of Applied Physiology
Publisher
American Physiological Society
Volume
140
Issue
5
Pages
1373–1388
Publication date
11 April 2026
Language
EN