Ketone Monoester Supplements, High Altitude, and Brain Blood Flow During Exercise

Launched by MCMASTER UNIVERSITY · Jul 2, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study is looking at how taking a special supplement called ketone monoester affects your breathing and blood flow to the brain during exercise, especially when you’re at high altitude where there’s less oxygen. Researchers want to see if this supplement changes the point during exercise when your breathing increases significantly (called the ventilatory threshold) and how blood moves through the brain’s arteries during intense exercise, both at low and high altitudes.

To take part, you need to be a member of a research expedition team traveling to the Barcroft Research Station in California’s White Mountains. People with a body weight index over 30, those who smoke or have smoked, take certain medications (except birth control), follow a ketogenic diet, use keto supplements, have heart, lung, blood vessel, or kidney problems, or are pregnant cannot join. Participants will undergo a maximal exercise test while researchers measure breathing and brain blood flow, both before and after taking the ketone supplement. This study is currently looking for volunteers who meet these criteria.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • - Must be a member of the research expedition team travelling to the Barcroft Research Station in White Mountain California
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • BMI \> 30
• • No prescribed medications (oral contraceptives excluded)
• • History of smoking
• • Currently following a ketogenic diet or consuming exogenous ketogenic supplements
• • History of heart, lung, blood vessel, or kidney disease
• • Currently pregnant