Exogenous Ketone Deployment is the clinical strategy of administering pre-formed ketone bodies or their precursors, such as ketone salts or esters, to rapidly elevate systemic ketone body concentration without requiring dietary carbohydrate restriction or fasting. This method is utilized to achieve therapeutic or performance-enhancing levels of ketosis quickly, providing an immediate, alternative fuel source for the brain and muscles. It is a targeted approach distinct from endogenous ketogenesis, offering a precise way to modulate metabolic state.
Origin
The term is a synthesis of ‘exogenous,’ meaning originating from outside the organism, and ‘ketone deployment,’ referring to the delivery and utilization of these specific energy substrates. This approach emerged from military and academic research into high-performance and therapeutic diets, seeking to harness the benefits of ketosis without the stringent dietary compliance of a ketogenic protocol. It represents a pharmacological or nutritional manipulation of the body’s bioenergetic system.
Mechanism
Upon ingestion, the exogenous ketones are rapidly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and enter the bloodstream, bypassing the liver’s endogenous production process. The elevated circulating beta-hydroxybutyrate is then transported across the blood-brain barrier and into peripheral tissues via Monocarboxylate Transporters (MCTs). Once inside the cell, the ketone bodies are converted back to acetyl-CoA through the ketolysis pathway, directly fueling the mitochondria for ATP generation, offering a rapid energy supply.
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