Exogenous ketosis during exercise and training: role of de novo angiogenesis and epigenetic regulation in muscular adaptation

Ketone bodies are compounds that are produced by the liver, mostly under circumstances of fasting or a high fat diet. Recently nutritional supplements were developed, so called ketone esters (KE), that enable us to increase the concentration of ketone bodies without fasting or dieting. We already showed that supplementation with KE during a period of extreme endurance exercise decreases the probability of fatigue or overload. At the same time, we found an attenuated decrease in mobility and muscle quality in mice with colon cancer after supplementation with KE. This shows that KE can slow down muscle wasting under circumstances of overload or sickness. In this project we aim to further investigate the effects of KE on muscle quality during periods of intense exercise or inactivity. We will pay special attention to the role of ketones in the formation of new blood vessels in muscle tissue as well as the regulation of specific genes contributing to muscle hypertrophy/atrophy. We expect that this research will lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms that are responsible for the protective effects of ketones on muscle tissue, with potential applications in the context of muscle conservation and recovery.