Effects of ketone ester supplementation during altitude training
The Effects of Ketone Ester Supplementation During a 5 Week Live High, Train Low Altitude Training Camp
NA · KU Leuven · NCT06596083
This study is testing if taking ketone esters can help athletes perform better during altitude training by comparing it to a placebo.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 18 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | KU Leuven (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant) |
| Trial ID | NCT06596083 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates the impact of oral ketone ester supplementation on exercise performance during a 5-week simulated altitude training camp. Participants will live at high altitude (2000-3000 meters) while training at sea level, with the aim of enhancing adaptations to hypoxia. The study will compare the effects of ketone supplementation against a placebo, measuring outcomes such as EPO concentrations, hemoglobin mass, and VO2max before, after, and one week post-training. The goal is to determine if combining exogenous ketosis with altitude training provides additional benefits.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are physically fit individuals who engage in regular physical activity and are in good health.
Not a fit: Patients with injuries, contraindications to high-intensity exercise, or those involved in elite athletic training may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance athletic performance by improving oxygen carrying capacity and endurance through innovative nutritional strategies.
How similar studies have performed: While altitude training is well-established, the combination with ketone supplementation is a novel approach that has not been extensively tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Physically fit and regularly involved in physical activity (2-5h per week) * Good health status confirmed by a medical screening * Non-smoking Exclusion Criteria: * Any kind of injury/pathology that is a contra-indication to perform high-intensity exercise * Any kind of injury/pathology that is a contra-indication for exposure to hypoxia * Ongoing pregnancy or breastfeeding * intake of any medication or nutritional supplement that is proven to affect exercise performance during the last month prior to the start of the study * Involvement in elite athletic training at a semi-professional or professional level * Exposure to altitudes higher than 1500 m during the 3 months prior to the start of the study * Blood ferritin levels below 30 ng/mL * Current participation in another research trial * Any other argument to believe that the subject is unlikely to succesfully complete the full study protocol
Where this trial is running
Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant
- KU Leuven — Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Chiel Poffé — KU Leuven
- Study coordinator: Wout Lauriks
- Email: wout.lauriks@kuleuven.be
- Phone: +32474360778
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Hypoxia, Exogenous Ketosis, Altitude training camp, Exercise, Live high, train low, EPO