Keto for diabetes? Ketone supplement drinks may modulate blood sugar levels, study suggests

08 Jan 2020 --- Ketone monoester drinks, a new food supplement, may prove a viable way to help control blood sugar in people with diabetes or pre-diabetes. This is according to new research from the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Okanagan Campus in Canada. Interest in ketone beverages and supplements is rising, yet there is little research on how they can influence metabolism and evaluate ketones’ benefits for diabetics. The findings may prove useful in developing alternative ways to manage diabetes via supplementation, as opposed to taking pills or undergoing insulin injections. However, there are still hurdles in development concerning the products’ taste, the researchers note.

“There has been a lot of interest in ketone drinks and supplements, which have only been on the market and available to consumers for the last couple of years. Because they are so new, very little research has been done on how they can influence metabolism and we are among the first to look at their use in non-athletes,” says Jonathan Little, Associate Professor at UBC Okanagan’s School of Health and Exercise Sciences and the study’s lead author.

Ketones are chemicals made in the liver. The body produces them when it doesn’t have enough insulin to turn sugar (or glucose) into energy. Only recently developed, ketone monoesters are a dietary source of ketones that elevate d-β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB) – a compound used as an energy source by the brain when blood glucose is low.– within minutes, with βHB remaining raised for several hours.

UBCO researcher Jonathan Little suggests ketone supplement drink may help control blood sugar.Ketone supplements are proving to be fertile ground for research into Type 2 diabetes, according to Little. This is because ketones are the natural fuel source of the body when it’s in ketosis – the metabolic byproduct of consuming a low carbohydrate, ketogenic diet.

He also notes that Type 2 diabetes is becoming “alarmingly” common in Canada as well, and approaching what many would consider epidemic levels. “While Type 2 diabetes can be controlled with medications or injectable insulin, many people are looking to options that don’t require taking pills every day or that are less invasive,” Little explains.

“There is mounting evidence that a low carbohydrate ketogenic diet is very effective in controlling blood sugar and even reversing Type 2 diabetes,” says Little. “We wanted to know what would happen if artificial ketones were given to those with obesity and at risk for Type 2 diabetes, but who haven’t been dieting.”

To test the idea, Little and his team asked 15 participants to consume a ketone drink after fasting overnight. After 30 minutes, they were asked to drink a fluid containing 75 g of sugar while blood samples were taken from each person.

“It turns out that the ketone drink seemed to launch participants into a sort of pseudo-ketogenic state where they were better able to control their blood sugar levels with no changes to their insulin,” explains Little. “It demonstrates that these supplements may have real potential as a valuable tool for those with Type 2 diabetes.”

He is also quick to point out that ketone supplements are “not a magic bullet in managing the disease.” 

“There are a number of problems that we still have to work out, including the fact that we still don't know what the long-term effects of consuming ketones are,” he continues. “Not to mention that the drink itself tastes absolutely terrible.”

“But for those that aren’t able to follow a strict and challenging ketogenic diet or for those who are looking for a new way to control blood sugars, this may be another strategy in helping to manage Type 2 diabetes,” Little concludes.

Beyond supplementation, ketones can naturally occur via a ketogenic diet. NutritionInsight previously reported on the trending diet which has shown promise in tackling a range of issues.  A ketogenic diet could help enhance production from airway cells that can effectively trap the influenza virus, according to research. Moreover, other studies have found that ketogenic diets could hold potential for improving senior cognition and boosting wellness in the military. However, researchers warn that a high protein diet could potentially impair kidney function if adopted in the long-term.

Edited by Kristiana Lalou