Ketones: Have We Been Getting Them All Wrong?

Some of the best pro cyclists use them to improve their performance, but new research suggests that how they improve performance isn’t what we thought and they may have other huge benefits, which are helping riders win races like the Tour de France! This begs the question - ketones have we got them all wrong? Dr. Bridgewood is here to find out!

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[peterslater]

ollie, your enthusiasm for science and ability to relay it in an understandable way, is both educational and really fun to watch. you add a unique depth to GCN!

[mscbijles]

Thanks Ollie! I may well be using this vid in my chemistry classroom.
Never knew before you’re an actual Chemistry PhD as well, I love it when actual science gets explained nice and simple, but still correctly, for a big audience. Keep them coming please!

[DrSomhairle]

Nice vid, liked your description of chirality very good job. Also very interesting about the ketones and recovery.

[alecsomers]

While I think GCN are doing a wonderful job with most of their work, the difference between an extended advertisement and a proper analysis of ketones would have been to bring in someone qualified to discuss the concerns around ketones in addition to the manufacturer discussing the supposed benefits. Presumably this process was followed in Ollie’s PhD. I suppose they have to pay the bills.

[popeyebouldercreek]

In the interview with Michael Brand, when asked the first question as to what benefit a non-pro could get from ketone supplementation, he just started bragging about how many pro teams use it. I still have no idea if it is something a non-pro should add to their plan. Any further insight into that primary question?

[jwlo]

What fantastic explanation of chirality, could've used this video when I taught organic chem 2! Another very important point Ollie highlighted is the vast field of research ketone esters opened up. With any new innovation, there may be lots more benefits and drawbacks to be discovered, it is important to keep up with the latest research. Thanks Ollie for helping everyone understand "scary chemicals!" 😅

[stefanwagener]

interesting ... but what is better value for the money: one year of ketones or a carbon wheel set? :)

[Choedron]

9 riders are hardly significant. We need several larger peer reviewed studies, which replicate these results. One thing, which needs to be investigated is bone density while using ketones. Several studies have now shown ketones to reduce bone density, which is not good given the risks of injuries.

[seahog]

Wrong! You can't "burn ketones for energy when sugar isn't available". Availability of a certain amount of glucose (sugar) is required for fat to be utilized for energy. When glycolysis (glucose break-down) can't deliver enough substrate for forming oxaloacetate, the citric acid cycle stops. Acetyl-CoA groups from breakdown of fatty acids can't enter the now stalled citric acid cycle and they won't be before refeeding or gluconeogenesis (in the context of endurance activities mostly from breakdown of proteins) starts delivering additional glucose molecules. This excessive acetyl-CoA is being transformed into ketone bodies while the system is "waiting" for additional glucose to arrive. When and only after there is enough glucose in the system again and the citric acid cycle "wheel" starts turning again, ketone bodies are transformed into the same acetyl_coA they came from in the first place, that can now finally enter the cycle and be utilized for ATP production.The main evolutionary logic for existence of this fat burning "detour" is that fatty acids and acetyl-CoA can't pass the blood-brain barrier and thus can't be utilized by brain for energy. However, the ketone bodies can and after they do and there is enough glucose again (actually, this is a bit more complicated as there can still be enough of glucose for brain even if there isn't enough for the muscles, but let's not complicate this even more), ketone bodies turn into Acetyl-CoA and thus the brain is able to use fat for its energy demands.

This isn't a "science" video but purely a marketing one. What this "consultant" (conveniently provided by the manufacturer) offers are all just assumptions. Well, in the best case, that is. Was the "accelerated muscle glycogen recovery" confirmed by biopsies? Where is the study? If there is one, was this performed by a team not connected to the manufacturer of the product?

The fact that the best teams do use these means nothing. The best teams have the best riders. That is why they are winning. They are likely sponsored and are contractually obliged to take every possible untested or unproved supplement. The teams that aren't sponsored take them just because what if. Unfortunately and maybe against the common belief of the fans, cycling teams don't employ the top scientific brains. This whole industry runs on heresays, hopes and, often, outright lies.

[porkchop]

The forefront of this research is being done in military applications. Specifically special forces underwater applications to prevent the bends. Exogenous ketone products seem to be an effective and quick way to improve metabolic functions and performance without the lengthy adaptation period required for endogenous ketones.

[charlieneiditz]

Dr. Ollie. The study you cited with improvement of power and heart rate drinking ketones is terribly FLAWED. As we do in Medicine, a double blind and crossover trial would produce more reliable results. I would like to see the placebo group improve after switching them to the ketone drink, wouldn’t you?

[megazilch]

Free lecture from Dr. Bridgewood! Hell yeah!

[nickbrownbill]

Top explanation of chirality Ollie, as a fellow chemistry PhD (though solid state NMR, terrible analytical chem...) I thought you nailed the level of the molecular explanations there. Really interesting video overall as well, though can't imagine I'd ever be able to stomach drinking acetone, however well the product is formulated 😂

[TheMerckxProject]

Heck yeah! Acetone! I use that to soften up the tubular glue before scraping it off the rim...

[irgccg]

I tried ketones before a ride and “bonked “ hard. I then tried it for recovery and I was amazed at how well it worked! I rode longer and felt much better even after multiple back to back endurance rides. The only real problem is the cost. There’s no reason to pay the money on a regular basis but for a multi day event it’s worth it.

[Tru_KB]

As a low carb/keto cyclist who fasts for about 16 hours a day and only eats about 50 net carbs a day I would like to add a little anecdotal experience. Back when I used to ride and eat to gels and stop for carb loads on rides my energy was all over the place due to the blood sugar rises and crashes of eating carbs while riding... now that I am low carb/keto my energy is through the roof on long rides (60+ miles) without stoping to eat. I just need electrolytes... So I believe these pro cyclist are using ketones to become dual fueled and just basically getting more adapted to boring fat along with carbs.

[Knud]

These episodes are super informative! And you're very good at explaining it. A suggestion for a future episode like this is palm cooling. There has been a couple of initial studies that show pretty impressive results. As far as I'm aware, someone is inventing some sort of cooling glove, that could potentially also be used for cycling. Perhaps an idea for a DIY experiment :)

[doctoradrift]

I’m highly skeptical of exogenous ketone drinks. Can you please post the link to papers/references?

[djcheamor]

Subtle product placement in the interview with Michael Byrd. Kudos!

[adia]

Perhaps it's time for a longer term experiment using keto diet to prep for a sportive rather than using exogenous ketones. Jeremy did a short term experiment with his own riding a few years back, but didn't really go all in. Alternatively, could plan some interviews with those keto endurance athletes to discuss their diet and training.