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Influence of Nutritional Ketosis Achieved through Various Methods on Plasma Concentrations of Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor

Kackley, Madison Lee
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5527-9529
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1637429233266951

Abstract Details

2021, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Kinesiology.
Although cognitive decline occurs at a higher rate in advancing age, a substantial number of cases are also attributed to poor metabolic health. A key component of brain plasticity and cognitive function is Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF). BDNF is a neuronal protein that promotes the survival of neurons through growth and maturation. BDNF expression is decreased in conditions associated with cognitive decline as well as metabolic diseases. One novel strategy to naturally improve metabolic health and elevate BDNF is by increasing circulating ketones, achievable though a ketogenic diet and/or exogenous ketones. Increasing ketone concentrations, specifically Beta-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB), is associated with increased BDNF concentrations based primarily on in vitro and animal experiments, but the relevance in humans remains unclear. The overarching purpose of this dissertation is to elucidate how various methods of inducing ketosis influence plasma levels of BDNF in humans. This will be achieved by analyzing ketone and plasma BDNF concentrations from active and sedentary adults consuming ketogenic diets and/or exogenous ketones. Such information is expected to advance our understanding of the factors determining BDNF levels, which may prove useful in optimizing interventions aimed at preventing neurocognitive decline and/or potentially improving cognitive performance. Study 1: Ketone Salt and Caffeine Supplementation with Acute Exercise explored how acute ingestion of a ketone salt prior to high-intensity exercise influenced the metabolic response to exercise and performance in a group of healthy recreationally-trained adults who were habitually consuming either a mixed diet (Keto-Naïve) or a ketogenic diet (Keto-Adapted). Acute exercise significantly increased BDNF concentrations immediately and 30-min postexercise in both groups, but there was no effect of the ketone salt despite significantly increasing BHB levels. Study 2: Prolonged Ketogenic Diet and Resistance Training compared how a ketogenic diet versus a mixed diet impacts BDNF levels during a 12-week resistance training program in group of healthy military-affiliated adults. There was no effect of resistance training or diet on BDNF concentrations, despite a significant weight loss and increase in BHB throughout the intervention in the KD group. Study 3: Ketogenic Diet with and without Ketone Salts During Weight Loss examined the effects of a controlled hypocaloric ketogenic diet, with and without daily use of a ketone-salt, on BDNF levels in overweight/obese adults. Irrespective of diet, each group lost weight over the 6 weeks. In a similar manner BDNF progressively decreased in all groups. There was no difference in BDNF response between the KD groups and the Low Fat Diet (LFD) despite BHB being significantly higher in the KD. Collectively, these results do not support our hypothesis that an acute or chronic elevation in BHB would be positively associated with circulating concentrations of BDNF. Intense exercise was a strong stimulus to increase plasma BDNF independent of ketosis, whereas clinically significant weight loss was a strong stimulus to decrease fasting plasma BDNF independent of diet composition or level of ketosis. Further research should explore varying levels of ketosis and those effects on BDNF.
Jeff Volek (Advisor)
Craig McElroy (Committee Member)
Brian Focht (Committee Member)
William Kraemer (Committee Member)
141 p.
Kinesiology; Nutrition; Physiology
Ketogenic diet; brain derived neurotropic factor; exogenous ketones

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kackley, M. L. (2021). Influence of Nutritional Ketosis Achieved through Various Methods on Plasma Concentrations of Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1637429233266951

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kackley, Madison. Influence of Nutritional Ketosis Achieved through Various Methods on Plasma Concentrations of Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor. 2021. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1637429233266951.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kackley, Madison. "Influence of Nutritional Ketosis Achieved through Various Methods on Plasma Concentrations of Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1637429233266951

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1637429233266951
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© 2021, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License Influence of Nutritional Ketosis Achieved through Various Methods on Plasma Concentrations of Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor by Madison Lee Kackley is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.