KICK-Energy

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Ketone supplementation to Improve Cardiac Energetics and Function

• IRAS ID

  308642

• Contact name

  Eylem Levelt

• Contact email

  e.levelt@leeds.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Leeds, Head of Research Integrity and Governance

• ISRCTN Number

  ISRCTN24885065

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 11 months, 26 days

• Research summary

  One of the major causes of premature death in type 2 diabetes is heart failure. This is when the heart cannot pump blood effectively. It makes people feel tired, breathless and develop swollen limbs. The causes of heart failure in diabetes are uncertain, but may be related to abnormalities in energy production in the heart. We have recently carried out research to better understand the changes in the heart of patients with type 2 diabetes, early on in the disease, when the pumping function of the heart is still normal. We showed that energy levels in the heart are reduced in many people with type 2 diabetes, and these changes are present even before any other abnormalities are seen in the heart.
  Ketones are energy fuels which are taken up by all the organs in the body to produce energy when available in the blood stream. Ketones are more efficient energy fuels than fats or sugars and researchers showed that ketone infusion or oral supplies improve the performance of athletes, or function of the heart even in heart failure patients. In this study, patients with diabetes, patients with an established diagnosis of heart failure with reduced pumping function of the heart on heart scans and healthy age matching participants who don’t have diabetes will be given a 2 weeks oral supplement of ketone drinks. We will initially assess the heart’s energy status, function, blood supply using MRI scanners a day before the ketone oral drink supplementation and repeat these again after 2 weeks of ketone drinks (taken three times daily). Our study may pave the way for better understanding how ketones work in the heart in patients with diabetes, patients with heart failure diagnosis (with our without accompanying diabetes) and age matched participants with no diabetes.

• REC name

  South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  22/SC/0335

• Date of REC Opinion

  7 Oct 2022

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion