30 Seconds SummaryDo exogenous ketone drinks spare muscle?
- The study compared three groups on a fat loss liquid diet (~1250 kcal) without exercise: a balanced diet group, a low carb with exogenous ketones group (KD1.7), and a high fat with exogenous ketones group (KD4).
- All groups experienced significant declines in body weight and fat mass over two weeks.
- Skeletal muscle mass was supposedly maintained in the KD1.7 group, although data showed similar muscle loss across the KD1.7 and balanced diet groups.
- The KD4 group lost twice as much muscle compared to the KD1.7 group, likely due to lower protein intake.
- While ketones did not appear to spare muscle, they seemed to enhance fat loss significantly more in the KD1.7 group compared to the balanced diet.
- The study had potential bias with two authors affiliated with companies related to the ketone drinks, yet the data were considered valid and funded by Korean government sources.
- Ketosis from a ketogenic diet may suppress appetite, which could explain some of the observed benefits rather than the ketones themselves.
- Significant side effects such as nausea and constipation were reported, especially in the KD4 group, affecting study compliance and dropout rates.
- Overall, exogenous ketones aren't magic solutions for fat loss and maintaining proper nutrition and fiber intake is crucial even on a ketogenic diet.
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