Kaja Falkenhain

Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Introduction People with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have a greater risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's disease, in later life. Exogenous ketone supplements containing the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) may be a strategy to protect the brain as β-OHB can support cerebral metabolism and promote neuronal plasticity via ex...

Aims/hypothesis: Improvements in glycemic control following acute exercise are typically attributed to improved post-exercise insulin sensitivity (IS) with comparatively little known about how acute exercise impacts beta cell function, especially in post-menopausal females. We determined how two high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols, ma...

Background Stressful large-scale events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters, impact birthing individuals’ postpartum experiences and their mental health. Resultant changes in government assistance, housing, and employment may further exacerbate these impacts, with differences experienced by varying income levels and races. This stu...

Objective Bariatric surgery remains the most effective treatment to achieve substantial weight loss; however, total daily energy expenditure and physical activity changes in response to such interventions have been seldom explored. Methods In this prospective observational study, total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) using doubly labeled water and...

The effects of exogenous ketones on appetite and food intake remain elusive, especially for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study aimed to determine whether acute ingestion of an oral ketone monoester supplement (KME) affected appetite sensations, prospective food consumption and intake in T2D. Results showed that acute KME ingestion did no...

Aims/hypothesis The aim of the present study was to conduct a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial to determine whether pre-meal ketone monoester ingestion reduces postprandial glucose concentrations in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Methods In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design study, ten participa...

Pre-clinical and cell culture evidence supports the role of the ketone beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) as an immunomodulatory molecule that may inhibit inflammatory signalling involved in several chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), but studies in humans are lacking. Therefore, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of BHB in humans acr...

Exogenous ketone supplements have been suggested to have potential cardiovascular benefits, but their overall effect on blood pressure is unclear. Our objective was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of exogenous ketone supplements on blood pressure (BP) and concomitant changes in resting heart rate (HR). Five databases...

Acute ingestion of the exogenous ketone monoester supplement [(R)-3-hydroxybutyl-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] lowers blood glucose, suggesting therapeutic potential in individuals with impaired glucose metabolism. However, it is unknown how acute or repeated ingestion of exogenous ketones affect blood glucose control in individuals with type 2 diabetes (...

Over the past decade, exogenous ketone supplements have gained popularity within the scientific community for their therapeutic potential for improving metabolic and cardiovascular health. However, their overall effect on blood pressure (BP) is unclear. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta analysis to investigate...

Background: Effects of ketone supplements as well as relevant dose-response relationships and time effects on blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), glucose and insulin are controversial. Objective: This study aimed to summarize the existing evidence and synthesize the results, and demonstrate underlying dose-response relationships as well as sustained...

Background: In type 2 diabetes (T2D), consuming carbohydrates results in a rapid and large increase in blood glucose, particularly in the morning when glucose intolerance is highest. Objective: We investigated if a low-carbohydrate (LC) breakfast (∼465kcal: 25g protein, 8g carbohydrates, 37g fat) could improve glucose control in people with type...

Exogenous ketone monoesters can raise blood β-OHB and lower glucose without other nutritional modifications or invasive procedures. However, unpleasant taste and potential gastrointestinal discomfort may make adherence to supplementation challenging. Two novel ketone supplements promise an improved consumer experience but differ in their chemical p...

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we explore the role of oxidative stress produced by NOX2-containing NADPH oxidase as a molecular mechanism causing capillary stalling and cerebral blood flow deficits in the APP/PS1 mouse model of AD. METHODS: We inhibited NOX2 in APP/PS1 mice by administering a 10 mg/kg dose of the peptide inhibitor gp91-ds-tat i.p., f...

Exogenous oral ketone supplements, primarily in form of ketone salts or esters, have emerged as a useful research tool for manipulating metabolism with potential therapeutic application targeting various aspects of several common chronic diseases. Recent literature has investigated the effects of exogenously induced ketosis on metabolic health, car...

Background Recently developed exogenous ketone monoester supplements can acutely raise blood β-OHB and lower blood glucose without the need for other nutritional modifications or invasive procedures. However, unpleasant taste and the potential for gastrointestinal discomfort may make adherence to a supplement regimen challenging. Two novel ketone s...

Objectives Exogenous ketone (monoester or salt) supplements are increasingly being employed for a variety of research purposes and marketed amongst the general public for their ability to raise blood beta-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB). Emerging research suggests a blood glucose-lowering effect of exogenous ketones. Here, we systematically review and meta...

Recently developed ketone (monoester or salt) supplements acutely elevate blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) exogenously without prolonged periods of fasting or carbohydrate restriction. Previous (small-scale) studies have found a blood glucose-lowering effect of exogenous ketones. This study aimed to systematically review available evidence and conduct...

Background Low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets are a viable method to lose weight that have regained popularity in recent years. Technology in the form of mobile health (mHealth) apps allows for scalable and remote delivery of such dietary interventions and are increasingly being used by the general population without direct medical supervision. Howev...

Diabetes is characterized by an impaired ability to appropriately control blood glucose. Postprandial hyperglycemia, in particular, is associated with complications in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The objective of this study was to determine how sugar-free dark chocolate sweetened with stevia, erythritol, and inulin...

Increased incidence of stalled capillary blood flow caused by adhesion of leucocytes to the brain microvascular endothelium leads to a 17% reduction of cerebral blood flow and exacerbates short-term memory loss in multiple mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we report that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling at the luminal s...

BACKGROUND Low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets are a viable method to lose weight that have regained popularity in recent years. Technology in the form of mobile health (mHealth) apps allows for scalable and remote delivery of such dietary interventions and are increasingly being used by the general population without direct medical supervision. Howev...

Background LDL particle size and number (LDL-P) are emerging lipid risk factors. Nonsystematic reviews have suggested that diets lower in carbohydrates and higher in fats may result in increased LDL particle size when compared with higher-carbohydrate diets. Objectives This study aimed to systematically review available evidence and conduct meta-a...

Objective To determine whether a Mediterranean-style ketogenic diet mobile health application (app) with breath acetone biofeedback is superior to a calorie-restricted low-fat diet app in promoting weight loss. Methods Participants (N = 155) with overweight/obesity (mean±SD: 41±11 y, BMI = 34±5 kg/m², 71% female) were randomized to one of the inte...

Objectives To determine the effects of a Mediterranean-based ketogenic weight loss diet app paired with a breath acetone biofeedback device compared to a relevant comparator arm on blood biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk in a hands-off, real-world setting. Methods Participants (N = 155) with overweight/obesity (41 ± 11 years, BMI = 32 ± 9 kg/m2,...

Increased incidence of stalled capillary blood flow caused by adhesion of leucocytes to the brain microvascular endothelium leads to a 17% reduction of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and exacerbates short-term memory loss in multiple mouse models of Alzheimers disease (AD). Here, we report that Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) signaling at the...

Background Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is decreased by ∼30% in both human patients and animal models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Previously, we found that about 2% of cortical capillaries in the APP/PS1 mouse model of AD had stalled blood flow due to an adhered neutrophil, while only 0.4% of capillaries were stalled in wild type controls. Blocking n...

Background We recently found that increased obstructions in capillaries caused by adhesion of leucocytes in the cortical microvascular leads to a ∼20% reduction of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we explore the contribution of peripheral Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) signaling at the luminal side...

Exercise exerts a beneficial effect on the major pathological and clinical symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease in humans and mouse models of the disease. While numerous mechanisms for such benefits from exercise have been proposed, a clear understanding of the causal links remains elusive. Recent studies also suggest that cerebral blood fl...

Obesity is linked to increased risk for and severity of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cerebral blood flow (CBF) reductions are an early feature of AD and are also linked to obesity. We recently showed that non-flowing capillaries, caused by adhered neutrophils, contribute to CBF reduction in mouse models of AD. Because obesity could exacerbate the vasc...

BACKGROUND Overweight and obesity are major contributing factors for many diseases. Calorie restricted diets often fail to result in sustained long-term weight loss. Very low-carbohydrate, high-fat, ketogenic diets have been suggested to have superior metabolic and weight loss effects. Keyto is a low-cost, highly scalable mHealth application paired...

Background Obesity and being overweight are major contributing factors for many diseases. Calorie restricted diets often fail to result in sustained long-term weight loss. Very low–carbohydrate, high-fat ketogenic diets have been suggested to have superior metabolic and weight loss effects. Keyto is a low-cost, highly scalable mobile health (mHealt...

Exercise exerts a beneficial effect on the major pathological and clinical symptoms associated with Alzheimers disease in humans and mouse models of the disease. While numerous mechanisms for such benefits from exercise have been proposed, a clear understanding of the causal links remains elusive. Recent studies also suggest that cerebral blood flo...

Obesity is linked to increased risk for and severity of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cerebral blood flow (CBF) reductions are an early feature of AD and are also linked to obesity. We showed that non-flowing capillaries, caused by adhered neutrophils, underlie the CBF reduction in mouse models of AD. Because obesity could exacerbate the vascular infla...