Can a ketone drink help your muscles hold onto protein after a workout?
NCT ID NCT07884539
First seen Oct 20, 2026 · Last updated Oct 21, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers at McGill University are testing whether a ketone supplement taken with protein after resistance exercise changes how the body handles protein. Eighteen healthy young men who train regularly will complete exercise sessions and then receive either protein alone or protein plus a ketone drink. By tracking labeled amino acids in breath and blood, the team measures how much protein the body breaks down and retains. The goal is to learn whether ketones offer an extra edge for muscle recovery after lifting.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- A ketone monoester supplement taken with whey protein after resistance exercise
- What this could lead to
- If ketones help the body hold onto protein after exercise, athletes and older adults might one day use them to better preserve muscle.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, short study in 18 healthy young men, so any effect may not apply to women, older people, or long-term training. Ketone supplements can also cause stomach upset.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
About 18 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
-
Oct 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
-
May 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 35 years
- Sex
-
Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult male aged 18-35 at time of initial screening. * Generally healthy (no uncontrolled diseases or conditions) as determined by health history, and if necessary, physician clearance. * BMI between 18.5 and 30 kg·m-2 (inclusive) at time of initial screening. * Maintenance of a stable body weight for at least 3 months prior to participation and willingness to maintain this weight during the duration of this study * Maintained stable use of medication and supplements (which are not limited by the exclusion criteria), and stable dietary and lifestyle habits for the last 3 months prior to screening and agree to maintain them throughout the study * Minimum 6 months of resistance training experience with a minimum of 2 sessions/week * Able and willing to understand and agree to the requirements and restrictions of this study and provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, hepatic, neuromuscular, or gastrointestinal disease that could interfere with study participation or data interpretation or make the resistance training unsafe * History of severe cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke, severe hypertension) * Any musculoskeletal injury that would prevent completion of the resistance exercise protocol * Ketone supplementation or adherence to a ketogenic diet * Use of medication known to influence protein metabolism * Participation in a stable-isotope tracer study in the past 6 months * Tobacco/nicotine use * Undergoing exercise sessions more than 5 days/week. * Metal implants * Paralysis, limb loss, or congenital or acquired absence of skeletal muscle * Individuals with Phenylketonuria (PKU) * Dairy allergy or lactose intolerance
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Dietary protein are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- App-etite for change: a Four-Week feasibility randomised controlled trial of a smartphone application to support adherence to a Mediterranean-Style diet and resistance exercise
- Can a ketone drink help aging muscles hold onto protein?
- Can a meatless keto diet cut inflammation and oxidative stress?
- Can a ketone drink shield kidneys?
- Ketone drinks may sharpen the mind and boost stamina in exhausted cyclists
- Muscle-Saving app: a new weapon in the GLP-1 weight loss battle?