Project
Designing a ketogenic supplement for muscle health
Aging is arguably the most universal contributor to aetiologies of metabolic decline and associated diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke. A key contributor to this age-related health decline is skeletal muscle. With its large mass, it forms an important regulator of metabolic homeostasis and governs physical functioning.
Already around 30 years old, decreases in energy expenditure and performance can be measured, which is followed by a drastic decline in muscle function, -mass and -metabolic rate from 50 years onwards. So, the metabolism and function of skeletal muscle seems to decline well before the onset of most age-related diseases, which argues that the most optimal window for interventions is somewhere around the age of 50-60.
We aim to develop a plant-based ketogenic supplement that, on top of a normal diet, can contribute to maintaining a better muscle health status during ageing.
Description
During the development of the supplement, several factors will be taken into account:
- Physical and chemical stability of the emulsion
- Digestibility of the plant proteins and lipids
- Organoleptic properties (i.e. taste and smell)
Subsequently, the impact of the selected ketogenic supplements on ketosis and whole body energy metabolism will be evaluated during an acute human intervention study.
The long-term impact of the developed supplement on muscle health will be evaluated in a human intervention study during which blood ketone levels, mitochondrial energy metabolism, muscle contractile function and fatigue will be assessed.