Clinical research has demonstrated the effectiveness of probiotics in treating various conditions, including antibiotic-associated diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infections, abdominal pain in children, and infant colic.

Probiotic Strains

Responding to the rising consumer demand and industry expansion, researchers are actively developing new and innovative probiotic strains. They consider factors such as processing, storage, gastrointestinal survivability, and cell functionality. Compatibility with other ingredients is a crucial consideration during formulation. 

Encapsulation of probiotic strains may be employed to enhance survivability in the GI tract, during processing, and when added to different food products such as powders, bars, gummies, infant formula, and pet food.

The most commonly used probiotic strains belong to the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera, owing to their abundance in the human gut and Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status. Strains from other genera like Bacillus, Saccharomyces, and Streptococcus are also used as probiotic supplements.

Probiotic Level Verification

Regardless of whether probiotics contain multiple strains or single strains, and whether they are in capsule form, powder form, or added to food products, the claimed levels on labels need to be verified. Mérieux NutriSciences provides verification of probiotic levels in Colony-Forming Units (CFUs) or Active Forming Units (AFUs). They have expertise in testing various probiotic strains and ensuring their safety for human consumption by testing for contaminants.

For strains to qualify as probiotics, they must be viable and offer health benefits when consumed. Clinical studies help determine the minimal and optimal doses required for probiotics to have a positive impact on health outcomes. Biofortis, a sister company of Mérieux NutriSciences, specializes in clinical research testing to assess GI survivability and conduct health benefit claim studies.

Mérieux NutriSciences’ laboratory services and Biofortis Research’s clinical trial services support the entire lifecycle of probiotic products, ensuring high-quality formulations backed by data.

Research at Biofortis

Biofortis is dedicated to protecting consumer health throughout the world by delivering a wide range of testing and consultancy services to the food, supplement, and nutrition industries. Biofortis supports this mission in two ways—through clinical trials and sensory and consumer insights testing. We specialize in clinical research targeting foods, ingredients, and dietary supplements that affect body structures, function, and overall health. Contact us with any clinical trial or scientific consulting needs.

Original article posted by Mérieux NutriSciences.

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Glutamine is predominantly used as an anti-fatiguing agent in sports nutrition. Several recent trends have shown glutamine supplementation being used to enhance overall physical performance. Is there merit in studying glutamine supplementation for multiple applications? The answer is yes, but let’s take a look at some details.

What is Glutamine?

Glutamine is an amino acid that is found in high concentrations in the muscles and blood. It is considered a non-essential amino acid, which means that the body can produce it on its own, although it can also be obtained from dietary sources such as meat, fish, and dairy products.

Glutamine plays a variety of roles in the body, including supporting immune function, maintaining gut health, and aiding in the production of energy during exercise. It is also needed for protein synthesis and is a building block for other important molecules in the body, such as glutathione, which is a powerful antioxidant.

During periods of intense physical activity or stress, the body’s demand for glutamine may increase, and it may become a conditionally essential amino acid. Some athletes and bodybuilders may choose to supplement with glutamine to help support their training and recovery. 

Evidence supporting the use of glutamine supplements in this context, however, is mixed and more research is needed to fully understand its effects.

Glutamine & Fatigue

The ‘energy’ that may be granted from glutamine supplementation has been linked to helping with fatigue. Many sports nutrition practitioners recommend glutamine as an anti-fatiguing agent.

During intense physical activity, the body’s demand for glutamine may increase, and it may become a conditionally essential amino acid. Glutamine is also involved in the production of energy. Some recent studies have linked glutamine to reduced fatigue and improved endurance in athletes.

Additionally, glutamine has been suggested to play a role in reducing fatigue associated with various medical conditions, such as cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, more research is needed to fully understand the effects of glutamine supplementation on fatigue in these populations.

Glutamine may have potential benefits for fighting fatigue, but more research is needed to fully understand its effects. Determining the optimal dosages and timing of supplementation is an area of study that desperately needs more research.

Future Applications of Glutamine

There are many potential applications of glutamine supplementation currently being researched. A recent joint study funded by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation listed 6 important findings:

1. Glutamine supplementation seems to increase muscle glycogen synthesis and reduce ammonia accumulation induced by exercise, especially when administered for long-term periods. A demonstration of the greater effect of glutamine in comparison to supplements containing carbohydrates or creatine monohydrates is needed.
2. Glutamine supplements may help indicate markers of muscle damage, such as blood CK and LDH levels.
3. While research has shown enhancement in regards to being an anti-fatiguing agent, glutamine supplementation seems to have limited effects on overall physical performance.
4. Supplements containing glutamine may present ergogenic effects, but many studies have been done on supplements with other nutrients combined with glutamine.  More studies assessing glutamine alone are needed. .
5. Glutamine supplementation may help increase overall glutamine availability. Due to its high stability, it may be a suitable option to be included in commercial products. 

Glutamine supplementation has shown many potential benefits but more research needs to be conducted. While its use as an anti-fatiguing agent shows merit, using glutamine to enhance general physical performance needs more research. 

Research at Biofortis

Biofortis is dedicated to protecting consumer health throughout the world by delivering a wide range of testing and consultancy services to the food, supplement, and nutrition industries. Biofortis supports this mission in two ways—through clinical trials and sensory and consumer insights testing. We specialize in clinical research targeting foods, ingredients, and dietary supplements that affect body structures, function, and overall health. Contact us with any clinical trial or scientific consulting needs.

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The gut microbiome is a key factor when it comes to determining variability in response to individual diets. Research surrounding this has focused on metabolic health including complications like obesity and type 2 diabetes. Understanding the gut microbiome’s response to individual diets may help our understanding of personalized sports nutrition for athletic performance. 

What is the Gut Microbiome?

The gut microbiome refers to the community of microorganisms that live in the digestive tract of humans and other animals. This community includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes that play a crucial role in maintaining our overall health. 

The gut microbiome is known to influence many aspects of our health, including digestion, immune function, metabolism, and even our mood and behavior. Research suggests that having a diverse and balanced community of microbes is important for optimal health.

How Diet Affects the Gut Microbiome

Diet can have a significant impact on the gut microbiome. The type and quantity of food we consume can affect the diversity and composition of the microbial community in our digestive tract. Some dietary components, such as fiber, prebiotics, and probiotics, can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, which can help to maintain a healthy microbiome. 

An example is fiber. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that humans do not digest, instead, it is fermented by gut bacteria into beneficial metabolites like short-chain fatty acids that provide energy for the cells lining the colon and help to support a healthy gut.

On the other hand, a diet that is high in fat, sugar, and refined carbohydrates lacking fiber can promote the growth of harmful bacteria in the gut and is associated with inflammation, insulin resistance, and other health problems.  Research is ongoing on whether the effect on the microbiome is related to these health issues. 

Research has shown the gut microbiome likely modifies the effect of both diet and exercise, making it relevant to the athletic pursuit of optimal performance. Research has benefited from recent developments in the general field of personalized nutrition. It has the potential to expand our knowledge of the nexus between the gut microbiome, lifestyle, and individual physiology.

Diet & the Athlete’s Microbiome

The ideal diet for an athlete is one that provides the necessary nutrients for optimal athletic performance while also supporting a healthy and diverse microbial community in the gut.

Athletes need to consume sufficient calories, protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats to support their energy needs and muscle recovery. In addition, they should aim to consume a diet that is high in fiber, prebiotics, and probiotics to promote a healthy gut microbiome.

Foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes are excellent sources of fiber including those that act as prebiotics, which are dietary fibers that feed beneficial bacteria in the gut. Probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and other fermented foods can help to introduce beneficial bacteria into the gut.

A diverse microbiome may also include how the microbiota affects the inflammatory response. While this is thought to be related to body composition, the UC Davis study found current data insufficient to come to a conclusion.

Research at Biofortis

Biofortis is dedicated to protecting consumer health throughout the world by delivering a wide range of testing and consultancy services to the food, supplement, and nutrition industries. Biofortis supports this mission in two ways—through clinical trials and sensory and consumer insights testing. We specialize in clinical research targeting foods, ingredients, and dietary supplements that affect body structures, function, and overall health. Contact us with any clinical trial or scientific consulting needs.

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This free consumer guide was put together to bring attention to and provide information on incorporating brain-healthy foods into the diet. The main message of the guide comes down to “it’s never too early to start taking care of your brain.”

Brain-Healthy Nutrition

Researchers from all of the institutes involved in the cookbook came together to share data, information, and recipes. 

“Eating a brain-healthy diet means including an array of foods–that’s why we’re so excited to partner with these food groups to create this easy-to-use guide,” says Kitty Broihier, MS, RD and Nutrition Advisor for the Wild Blueberry Association of North America. “The Cognition Kitchen guide is a free consumer resource that provides science-based, but simple, information about these brain-healthy foods. Inside the guide, consumers will find a selection of recipes and details on how these four foods help nourish a healthy brain.”

The research decided to be included in the final cookbook and was condensed into 27 pages of healthy, easy-to-make recipes targeted toward anyone who is interested.

The cookbook is not intended to be a final draft. Instead, the researchers note that data and studies reveal new things every day. This means that the cookbook will have to be updated to keep up with new information in order to stay relevant.

Wild Blueberries aka Brain Berries

Research has linked blueberries and cognition since the 1990s and has shown that these tiny blue wonders can improve various measures of cognitive ability for all ages—children, teens, middle-aged adults, and older adults. Much of the focus on cognitive benefits is due to the flavonoid content of the wild berries—particularly the anthocyanins (and by the way, research shows wild blueberries contain more anthocyanins than any other commonly consumed berry in the US diet, including ordinary blueberries).

Brain Healthy Fish

Fish and shellfish are among the only foods naturally rich in a healthy type of omega-3 fat called DHA, which literally builds the brain and helps support brain health throughout the entire lifespan. DHA makes up 97% of the omega-3s in a newborn’s brain and the DHA content of an infant’s brain triples during the first three months of life. Research shows that children of moms who eat seafood 2-3 times each week during pregnancy reach milestones–like climbing stairs, copying sounds, and drinking from a cup–more quickly. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourages all children and adults, especially moms-to-be, to eat a variety of seafood—including popular options like salmon, canned tuna, shrimp, tilapia, and crab—at least 2-3 times each week.

Brain-Healthy Tree Nuts

Tree nuts, such as almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts, have been shown to help reduce the risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes and may play a positive role in satiety and maintaining healthy body weight. Emerging research is suggesting that long-term nut consumption may also improve cognitive function and help reduce cognitive dysfunction, such as dementia. Oxidative stress is believed to play a major role in brain health. Consuming antioxidant-rich foods, such as nuts, may help protect the brain against the effects of oxidative stress, and ultimately help decrease cognitive decline.

Eggs and Brain Health

Eggs are a naturally nutrient-rich choice providing a good or excellent source of eight essential nutrients, including choline — a nutrient that helps reduce the risk of birth defects and supports brain health throughout the lifespan; however, more than 90% of Americans (including approximately 90% of pregnant women) don’t get enough of this essential nutrient and it’s not found in high quantities in many foods. Fortunately, eggs are one of the most concentrated sources of choline in the American diet. In fact, two large eggs supply more than half the recommended intake for pregnant women and can help them meet their needs.

The new 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans specifically recommend nutrient-dense eggs as an important first food for infants and toddlers, as well as for pregnant women and lactating moms. The new Guidelines affirm that eggs — long known to be a vital source of nutrients for people of all ages — provide several key nutrients important for babies during a time in which their brains are most rapidly developing and can contribute to health and well-being during every life stage.

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Postbiotics have been connected to a number of gut health benefits, along with some immune system and overall health. But what are postbiotics? Let’s take a look at each type of -biotic and what they are.

Prebiotics, Probiotics, & Postbiotics

Probiotics are healthy bacteria inside the gut that help support health by converting fiber into other beneficial compounds.

Prebiotics are nutrients, mainly consisting of fiber, that feeds the healthy bacteria in the gut.

Postbiotics are the beneficial compounds probiotic bacteria produce when they consume prebiotics.

What are Postbiotics?

In a nutshell, postbiotics are bioactive compounds that develop when probiotic bacteria feed on prebiotic food in your colon (mainly fibers). Postbiotics are technically considered waste products of probiotic bacteria but they offer many health benefits.

There are many types of postbiotics. Here is a list of common types of postbiotic compounds:

• short-chain fatty acids
• lipopolysaccharides
• exopolysaccharides
• enzymes
• cell wall fragments
• bacterial lysates (a mixture made from bacterial components)
• cell-free supernatants (a mixture of compounds produced by bacteria and yeast)
• various other metabolites such as vitamins and amino acids

Supplements based on postbiotic compounds are not yet widely available, as research is still being conducted on them. The easiest way to get postbiotic benefits at the moment is to eat more prebiotic foods, as postbiotics develop from probiotic bacteria consuming them.

Postbiotic Health Benefits & Potential Benefits

Postbiotics as a public health concept is new, but they have been linked to health benefits in the body for a long time. Here are some of the benefits that have been linked to postbiotics:

Immune system support. Postbiotics are known to have properties that can strengthen the immune system. Short-chain fatty acids can stimulate the production of healthy cells in the intestines, helping to control the body’s immune responses.

Reduce inflammation. Some postbiotic compounds, including supernatants from healthy bacteria, can increase the rate of anti-inflammatory chemical production. The cytokines that are found in some postbiotics can help reduce inflammation.

Possible benefits for digestive conditions. Postbiotics are being researched to discover how beneficial they may be for conditions including IBD, Crohn’s disease, and Ulcerative Colitis. Research is focused on the production of short-chain fatty acids in the gut and how postbiotic supplements may assist in this process.

Possible diarrhea treatment. Research is also currently being done on how postbiotics can help treat or possibly even prevent diarrhea. Early tests have shown postbiotic compounds working better than control group supplements.

More Potential Postbiotic Health Benefits

The following list includes potential postbiotic health benefits that are all being researched. There are no definitive conclusions on any of the health benefits below, but the data is promising enough to warrant further studies.

• Allergies
• Weight-loss
• Blood pressure
• Blood sugar
• May be better tolerated than probiotics

The potential benefits of postbiotics is exciting and new things are being discovered as ongoing research is conducted.

Postbiotics and Diet

Postbiotic supplements are not widely available. Current supplements at health food stores may not have enough research to back the benefits they tout. Postbiotics can, however, be naturally manufactured by the body by eating certain foods.

The list below contains sources of both pre-and probiotics, both important in the manufacture of postbiotic compounds.

Good Sources of Prebiotics

• garlic
• onions
• leeks
• asparagus
• barley
• oats
• flaxseed
• seaweed

Good Sources of Probiotics

• yogurt with live cultures
• sauerkraut
• kimchi
• miso
• tempeh
• kombucha

What We Know About Postbiotics

Research on postbiotic benefits in almost all areas is ongoing. What is known is that postbiotics are bioactive compounds that develop from probiotics consuming prebiotics. Postbiotics are technically a waste product, although they have been shown to be beneficial for our gastrointestinal health.

Due to the fact that postbiotics have shown a lot of promise in the areas of gut health, immune system health, and allergies, research has been ramping up over the last few years.

The post What Are Postbiotics? appeared first on Biofortis Research.

The global probiotics market has grown tremendously in the last couple of years; especially in the supplement form. In 2021, the probiotics industry was >48 billion dollars with a 22% increase in probiotic supplements from 2019 to 2021. This increasing use of probiotic supplements is due to the evidence that probiotics support GI health. Further, clinical research has demonstrated the efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of conditions such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infections, abdominal pain in children, and infant colic to name a few.

Reacting to the increase in consumer demand and growth in the industry, researchers are developing novel probiotic strains at a fast pace while considering the impact of processing, storage, gastrointestinal survivability, and functionality of the cells. A key consideration during formulation is compatibility with other ingredients. Probiotic strains may be encapsulated to ensure survivability in the GI tract, during processing, and for application when added to different food matrices such as powders, bars, gummies, infant formula, and pet food.

The most widely used probiotic strains belong to two main genera, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, due to their abundance in the human gut and GRAS status. Species of other genera such as Bacillus, Saccharomyces, and Streptococcus are also used as probiotic supplements.

Irrespective of probiotics with multiple strains or single strains, in capsule, powder, or as an additive in a food matrix, the level claimed on the label needs verification. Mérieux NutriSciences offers this verification in CFUs or AFUs and has experience with a variety of probiotic strains and their applications. Our services also include testing for contaminants to ensure the safety of probiotics for human consumption.

To qualify as probiotics, strains need to be viable and have a health benefit when consumed. Clinical studies help identify the minimal and optimal doses that probiotics exert on a favorable outcome. Biofortis, Mérieux NutriScience’s sister company, offers clinical research testing to demonstrate GI survivability and health benefit claim studies.

Our Mérieux NutriScience laboratory and Biofortis Research clinical trial services will support you through your product lifecycle and beyond ensuring a high-quality probiotic formulation supported by data.

We are eager to help!

Contact Us

1. International Probiotics Association Europe. Global and European probiotic market insights 2018-2021. IPAEurope website. https://www.ipaeurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Market-data-probiotics-2018-2021.pdf
2. Probiotics in Disease Prevention and Treatment https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6656559/
3. The Development of High-Quality Multispecies Probiotic Formulations: From Bench to Market. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7468868/
4. Encapsulated probiotic cells: Relevant techniques, natural sources as encapsulating materials and food applications – A narrative review https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996920307079#:~:text=Several%20techniques%20are%20currently%20available,%2C%20%26%20Tzia%2C%202020

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A recent study aimed to systematically review the available evidence and conduct a meta-analysis of studies reporting on exogenous ketones and blood glucose. Randomized and nonrandomized trials of any length that reported on the use of exogenous ketones were used for the meta-analysis. 

Effects of Exogenous Ketones

The study calculated raw mean differences in blood beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and glucose in two different ways:

• Before acute ingestion of exogenous ketones
• After acute ingestion of exogenous ketones

Participants who ingested exogenous ketones showed increased blood BHB and decreased mean blood glucose. Compared to placebo groups, blood BHB increased and blood glucose decreased. Across both analyses, significantly greater effects were seen in groups with ketone monoesters.

Why are Exogenous Ketones Important?

Exogenous ketones are important because they may be able to help the body achieve natural ketosis without difficult dietary changes. Natural ketosis is being studied for potentially life-changing effects on conditions including epilepsy and gastrointestinal disorders.

Administration of exogenous ketones may also have a positive effect on performance, both athletically and academically. Current research suggests ketosis may help produce more Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules from oxygen. ATP molecules provide energy that drives processes in living cells, like muscle contraction and nerve impulse propagation.

Increased Blood BHB & Ketone Supplementation

Evidence from the meta-analysis study suggests that acute ingestion of exogenous ketones leads to increased blood BHB and decreased blood glucose. Limited evidence on prolonged ketone supplementation was found.

The results of this recent study and other similar meta-analyses suggest that ketone supplementation is worthy of further consideration.

Research at Biofortis

Biofortis is dedicated to protecting consumer health worldwide by delivering a wide range of testing and consultancy services to the food, supplement, and nutrition industries. Biofortis supports this mission in two ways—through clinical trials and sensory and consumer insights testing. We specialize in clinical research targeting foods, ingredients, and dietary supplements that affect body structures, function, and overall health. Contact us with any clinical trial or scientific consulting needs.

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Since then, Ketogenic diets have spread to most places around the world. Ketogenic diets are high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diets that are used mainly to treat hard-to-control epilepsy in children. The idea behind the diet is forcing the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates. A lack of carbohydrates forces the liver to convert fats into ketone bodies and fatty acids, which replace glucose as an energy source.

While the body can be forced to create ketones, they can also be introduced externally.

What are Exogenous Ketones?

The term exogenous means coming from outside the body. For Ketones, this means direct ketone supplementation or indirect via supplements that have ketone precursors.

Exogenous ketones can be found as oral supplements. Ketogenic diets and exogenous ketones have many similarities but key differences when it comes to application.

Nutritional Ketosis

Clinicians and other medical practitioners are increasingly interested in the proposed performance and therapeutic benefits of nutritional ketosis. Nutritional ketosis is defined as a nutritionally induced metabolic state resulting in higher blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations. 

Body tissues readily metabolize ketone bodies. In turn, the ketone bodies regulate metabolism and signals in both a systemic and tissue-specific manner. During fasting, starvation, or undergoing a strict ketogenic dietary regimen, endogenous synthesis of ketone bodies is amplified resulting in a state of natural ketosis. 

Natural ketosis results in a number of potential benefits across health, disease, and performance.  Therefore, interest in how to produce the same effect with supplements, which don’t require the intense dietary regimen or fasting, is of interest. 

Consuming an exogenous ketone supplement will lead to a rapid increase in circulating ketone bodies, which produces a similar apparent metabolic state.  However, understanding if the ketosis produced by exogenous supplementation leads to the same health benefits as natural ketosis is under investigation. 

Ketogenic Diets & Natural Ketosis

Natural ketosis has long been used to manage convulsions. Texts from hundreds of years ago reference the anticonvulsant effects of fasting. Medical records from the 19th and 20th centuries describe ketogenic-type diets that benefit patients with metabolic disorders.  However, these diets are strict in their requirements and not considered pleasant by many people, as they can limit protein and many food choices.

A ketogenic diet can be defined as any diet that amplifies ketogenesis, not just the strict therapeutic ketogenic diets (KDs) found in the early 20th-century medical literature. There are now a number of defined ‘alternative’ keto diets like

• The medium-chain triglyceride ketogenic diet
• The Modified Atkins Diet
• The Low Glycemic Index Treatment Diet.

The approach of each diet induces a state of natural ketosis but is formulated with more liberal allowances of protein to appeal to more people. 

Interest in the performance of natural ketosis has rapidly expanded. Researchers continue to look at both natural ketosis and exogenous ketosis, as well as comparing the effects of each, for better understanding of how ketogenesis can be used in the clinic to promote health and performance. 

Research at Biofortis

Biofortis is dedicated to protecting consumer health worldwide by delivering a wide range of testing and consultancy services to the food, supplement, and nutrition industries. Biofortis supports this mission in two ways—through clinical trials and sensory and consumer insights testing. We specialize in clinical research targeting foods, ingredients, and dietary supplements that affect body structures, function, and overall health. Contact us with any clinical trial or scientific consulting needs.

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There has been a long-standing interest in developing ingestible forms of ketone bodies that have recently led to the commercial availability of exogenous ketone supplements (EKS). EKS like ketone salts and esters facilitate nutritional ketosis. 

Studies have suggested the beneficial effects of EKS on endurance performance, and recovery. The potential benefits for athletic performance have been a key area of modern research.

Exogenous Ketone Supplements

Exogenous ketones refer to direct ketone supplementation or supplements that have ketone precursors. Exogenous ketones are sold as supplements. Ketogenic diets and exogenous ketones have many similarities but research is needed to ensure they have the same health and therapeutic outcome effects.

Achieving ketosis without supplements, i.e., through dietary changes, is called natural ketosis.  Natural ketosis takes prolonged periods of dieting or fasting, and the dietary changes are generally extreme.  This is why engaging in a dietary regimen to achieve natural ketosis should be done only under supervision by a medical and/or nutritional professional. 

Using supplements, or exogenous ketones, the achieve ketosis seeks to eliminate dietary restrictions, thereby helping the body achieve a state of ketosis without all the work.

Natural ketosis has shown potential for aiding such functions as athletic performance. Supplementation with ketones, if it provides the same benefits, would allow a quick way of achieving ketosis without major alterations in a person’s lifestyle.

Important Exogenous Ketone Information

Ketone bodies such as acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) have wide-ranging metabolic and molecular effects on organs including the brain, heart, and skeletal muscle. In particular, research data has suggested potential benefits to athletes in terms of performance and recovery.

Anecdotal reports and increased commercial availability of ingestible forms of exogenous ketone supplements have amplified interest in increased interest in human exercise studies to better understand and confirm the effects of ketone supplements on athletic performance.

However, most studies on exogenous supplements in various athletic contexts to date have failed to observe benefits to performance or recovery. Some evidence for an effect on biochemical mechanisms underlying performance function has been reported. Whether the changes lead to an actual observable clinical effect under the right conditions or with certain amounts of consumption remains to be seen. Future research on whether there are contexts in which exogenous ketone supplements are effective is greatly needed.

Research at Biofortis

Biofortis is dedicated to protecting consumer health worldwide by delivering a wide range of testing and consultancy services to the food, supplement, and nutrition industries. Biofortis supports this mission in two ways—through clinical trials and sensory and consumer insights testing. We specialize in clinical research targeting foods, ingredients, and dietary supplements that affect body structures, function, and overall health. Contact us with any clinical trial or scientific consulting needs.

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Since that time, numerous studies have explored the metabolic influence of diet on aerobic and anaerobic performance to determine if major shifts in substrate metabolism translate to altered performance outcomes. 

Many modern-day dietary research studies have primarily focused on ketogenic diets and the effects they may have on aerobic athletic performance. The major issue with these lifestyle modifications, however, is the difficulty of maintenance or compliance with the dietary regimen.

What is Ketosis?

Ketosis is defined as elevated circulating levels of ketone bodies. Traditionally ketosis has been achieved through fasting or a ketogenic diet.

Bodily tissues readily metabolize ketone bodies. In turn, the ketone bodies regulate metabolism and generate local, tissue-specific, and systemic signals that can have other effects. In instances of fasting, starvation, or ketogenic diets, endogenous synthesis of ketone bodies is amplified resulting in a state of natural ketosis. 

Exogenous oral ketone supplements rapidly elevate circulating ketone bodies, with the intention to mimic a metabolic state similar to natural ketosis obtained via dietary changes. Ketosis has potential effects across health, disease, and performance, which are being actively studied.

Ketogenic Supplementation & Running

One of the most popular methods of exercise is running. Ketogenic diets have been used with running and other aerobic exercise regimens to assess if there is an effect on performance. Some evidence suggests an effect, although more research is needed.  Still, recent interest has arisen to develop ketone bodies that can be exogenously administered without dietary carbohydrate restriction.  

The emergence of commercially-available exogenous ketone supplements has led to many studies focused on the effect of these supplements on running performance. One recent study reported the effects of strict adherence to a ketone supplement program on people undergoing a 5 km run. Data showed no significant effect of the supplement when administered before or close to the run.

Achieving and maintaining a state of natural ketosis is extremely difficult without professional medical oversight and assistance. While ketone supplements may not be a ‘miracle drug’ when it comes to performance, longer-term studies need to be conducted, particularly on people who strictly adhere to ketone diets or supplement administration.

Research at Biofortis

Biofortis is dedicated to protecting consumer health worldwide by delivering a wide range of testing and consultancy services to the food, supplement, and nutrition industries. Biofortis supports this mission in two ways—through clinical trials and sensory and consumer insights testing. We specialize in clinical research targeting foods, ingredients, and dietary supplements that affect body structures, function, and overall health. Contact us with any clinical trial or scientific consulting needs.

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