KetoneAid Research Index

Veech Ketone Ester Clinical Studies

Search the research by the molecule actually tested.

“Ketones” is a category. Not all ketones do the same thing, and results are not transferable between them. This index covers the human exogenous ketone research conducted on one exact molecule — the Veech Ketone Ester (VKE) — organized by research area, result, dose, population and, when available, the product or supplier used in the study.

75+Published VKE research base
21Human studies indexed here
1Every study used VKE
SourcePrimary papers linked
What is included here: a curated index of non-medical human research on the Veech Ketone Ester across performance, cognition, training, recovery, exercise physiology, appetite and ketone delivery. Supplier attribution is shown when it can be verified. In the published literature the same molecule also appears as the ketone monoester (KME) and as (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate.
21 studies shown · Veech Ketone Ester human research
Positive · 15Mixed · 6

Indexed Veech Ketone Ester human studies

VKEKetoneAid supplied8-week training

4% Higher 30-Minute Cycling Power After 8 Weeks

Robberechts et al. · The Journal of Physiology · 2026
Positive

Twenty-eight trained men completed supervised cycling training. Post-exercise and pre-sleep Veech Ketone Ester produced a larger improvement in 30-minute power and several skeletal-muscle adaptation measures versus control.

+4% 30-min power vs control+12% relative VO₂peak vs +6% control+14% citrate synthase activity
Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
Dose25g post-exercise + 25g pre-sleep
Population28 trained men
Study materialKetoneAid Inc. · pure VKE
View primary paper ↗Supplier named in published Methods.
VKEKetoneAid KE4 Pro31 days

Executive Function Improved; 5K Performance Did Not

Prins et al. · Journal of the American Nutrition Association · 2026
Mixed

Eighteen recreational runners consumed 30g of VKE three times daily for 31 days or placebo. Cognitive flexibility and response inhibition improved, while 5-km time-trial performance did not significantly differ.

11% faster correct switching responsesNo 5K gain performance neutral~3.0 mM post-dose R-BHB
Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
Dose30g · 3× daily · 31 days
Population18 recreational runners
Study materialKE4 Pro · KetoneAid
View primary paper ↗Product named in published Methods.
VKECognitionRandomized crossover

Preserved Cognitive Performance Under Mental Fatigue

Roca, Barker & Waldman · Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research · 2026
Positive

In 25 adults, VKE raised BHB to about 1.5 mM and preserved cognitive flexibility and selective attention under experimentally induced mental fatigue. VKE + caffeine produced larger effects on some reaction-time measures.

Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
DesignDouble-blind randomized crossover
Population25 adults
Study materialSupplier not stated in abstract
VKEKetoneAid suppliedUltra-endurance

Mental Alertness Maintained During Ultra-Endurance Exercise

Poffé et al. · Journal of Applied Physiology · 2023
Positive

During an ultra-endurance run, the placebo group showed slower reaction and movement times. The VKE condition maintained performance on several psychocognitive measures and produced higher circulating dopamine during the event.

~2–3 mM BHB during runMaintained reaction-time performance
Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
DoseRepeated dosing before, during + recovery
Population18 recreational ultra-runners
Study materialPurchased from KetoneAid Inc.
View primary paper ↗Supplier named in published Methods.
VKEKetoneAid suppliedPost-exercise sleep

Improved Sleep Efficiency After Strenuous Exercise

Robberechts, Albouy, Hespel & Poffé · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · 2023
Positive

Ten well-trained cyclists completed a strenuous training day followed by overnight polysomnography. VKE improved sleep efficiency and counteracted the exercise-related decline in REM sleep and rise in wakefulness after sleep onset.

+3% sleep efficiency vs exercise control~3 mM BHB post-dose
Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
Dose25g post-exercise + 25g pre-sleep
Population10 well-trained cyclists
Study materialPurchased from KetoneAid Inc.
View primary paper ↗Supplier named in published Methods.
VKEKetoneAid KE4Conference abstract

Overnight Muscle Fuel Score Increased in College Basketball Players

Molinger et al. · Duke University Medical Center · 2023 / ASPEN 2024 abstract
Positive

A low-dose VKE protocol was associated with higher ultrasound-derived intramuscular glycogen fuel scores during the final study period in college basketball players. This is a conference abstract, not a full peer-reviewed paper.

Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
TimingPost-training / post-game through next morning
Population11 male college basketball players
Study materialKE4 by KetoneAid
View abstract ↗Product named in abstract.
VKEKetoneAid record: KE4Team sport

Cognition Preserved; Running Performance Unchanged

Evans & Egan · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · 2018
Mixed

VKE reduced lactate and attenuated the decline in executive function after exhausting intermittent running. Shuttle-run time to exhaustion and 15-m sprint performance did not significantly improve.

Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
Dose750mg/kg with carbohydrate-electrolyte drink
Population11 male team-sport athletes
Study materialKE4 · KetoneAid supply record
View primary paper ↗Supplier attribution from KetoneAid’s documented study record.
VKETraining overload

15% Higher Sustainable Training Load in Week 3

Poffé et al. · The Journal of Physiology · 2019
Positive

During a three-week intensive cycling overload block, post-exercise and pre-sleep VKE increased sustainable training load in week 3 and improved final 30-minute power in a two-hour endurance test.

+15% sustainable training load+15% final 30-min power
Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE) · 96% purity
Dose25g post-exercise + 25g pre-sleep
Population18 trained male cyclists
Study materialTdeltaS Ltd.
View primary paper ↗Supplier named in published Methods.
VKEKetoneAid suppliedBHB delivery

5g and 10g KetoneAid VKE Produced Dose-Dependent BHB

Bolyard et al. · Nutrients · 2023
Positive

Fourteen healthy young adults completed randomized crossover conditions. KetoneAid-supplied VKE increased R-BHB rapidly and dose-dependently; the 10g VKE condition reached about 2.4 mM at 15 minutes.

Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
Dose5g and 10g
Population14 healthy young adults
Study materialPurchased from KetoneAid
View primary paper ↗KetoneAid named in published Methods.
VKERunning economyAcute

Running Economy Improved ~4%; Time to Exhaustion Did Not

Brady & Egan · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · 2024
Mixed

Eleven male middle- and long-distance runners consumed VKE with or without carbohydrate. VKE without carbohydrate improved running economy by an average of 4.1% versus carbohydrate alone, while time to exhaustion did not significantly differ.

Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
Dose750mg/kg
Population11 male endurance runners
Study materialSupplier not stated in abstract
VKEAppetiteHealthy adults

Ghrelin, Hunger and Desire to Eat Were Reduced

Stubbs et al. / de Wet · Obesity · 2018
Positive

Fifteen normal-weight adults consumed a ketone ester or calorie-matched dextrose after an overnight fast. The ketone condition raised BHB to about 3.3 mM and significantly reduced ghrelin, hunger and desire to eat.

Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
DesignRandomized crossover
Population15 normal-weight adults
Study materialAcademic research material; commercial supplier not stated
VKEKetoneAid suppliedExercise physiologyFluid balance

~20% Lower Urine Output During Prolonged Cycling; Performance Unchanged

Robberechts, Poffé & Hespel · Journal of Applied Physiology · 2022
Mixed

Eleven well-trained cyclists completed a simulated race in the heat. VKE reduced urine output and circulating NT-proANP by about 20%, while 15-minute time-trial performance was similar between conditions.

Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
DesignDouble-blind crossover
Population11 well-trained male cyclists
Study materialKetoneAid Inc.
View primary paper ↗Supplier named in published Methods.
VKEOxygenationAltitude simulation

Blood and Muscle Oxygenation Improved; Performance Did Not

Poffé et al. · American Journal of Physiology · 2021
Mixed

Fourteen highly trained cyclists completed prolonged exercise while simulated altitude progressively increased. VKE attenuated the drop in blood and muscle oxygenation by about 3%, but time-trial and sprint performance were unchanged.

Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
Dose75g across protocol
Population14 highly trained male cyclists
Study materialSupplier not stated in abstract
VKETraining adaptationTdeltaS

Training Overload Increased Muscle Capillarization With VKE

Poffé et al. · The Journal of Physiology · 2023
Positive

During three weeks of endurance overload, VKE increased capillary contacts by 44% and the capillary-to-fibre exchange index by 42%, and increased circulating EPO by 26% versus control.

Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE) · >96% purity
Dose25g post-exercise + pre-sleep
Population18 healthy male volunteers
Study materialTdeltaS Ltd.
View primary paper ↗Supplier named in published Methods.
VKEPost-exerciseExercise physiology

Post-Exercise Erythropoietin Rose More With VKE

Evans et al. · American Journal of Physiology · 2023
Positive

Nine healthy men completed exercise followed by recovery nutrition with or without VKE. Peak serum erythropoietin was significantly higher in the VKE condition.

Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
Dose0.29g/kg · repeated post-exercise
Population9 healthy men
Study materialSupplier not highlighted here
VKEMental fatigueSimulated soccer

Cognitive Performance Improved During a Mentally Fatiguing Soccer Protocol

Quinones & Lemon · Nutrients · 2022
Positive

Nine recreationally active men completed a mental-fatigue task followed by a simulated soccer match. A 25g VKE dose improved selected cognitive-performance measures during later exercise blocks.

Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
Dose25g
Population9 recreationally active men
Study materialCommercial supplier not stated in abstract
VKEElite athletesEndurance

Early Human Work Reported Improved Cycling Time-Trial Performance

Cox et al. · Cell Metabolism · 2016
Positive

Across five studies in 39 high-performance athletes, nutritional ketosis altered fuel selection during exercise. In the cycling time-trial protocol, the ketone-ester condition produced an approximately 2% improvement in distance covered.

Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
Research programUniversity-led · NIH collaborators
Population39 high-performance athletes across studies
Study materialAcademic research material
VKERecoveryGlycogen

Muscle Glycogen Was Higher Under a High-Glucose Recovery Clamp

Holdsworth et al. · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · 2017
Positive

Twelve trained male athletes completed glycogen-depleting exercise. Under a controlled high-glucose clamp, the VKE condition increased glucose uptake and produced higher muscle glycogen than the matched control condition.

Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
ProtocolPost-exercise + high-glucose clamp
Population12 well-trained male athletes
Study materialAcademic research material
VKERecovery signalingMixed outcome

mTORC1 Signaling Increased; Glycogen Resynthesis Did Not

Vandoorne et al. · Frontiers in Physiology · 2017
Mixed

Eight healthy trained men completed glycogen-depleting exercise followed by carbohydrate and protein recovery. VKE increased mTORC1 signaling and lowered AMPK phosphorylation more rapidly, but did not add to muscle glycogen resynthesis.

Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
Protocol5-hour post-exercise recovery
Population8 healthy trained men
Study materialSupplier not highlighted here
VKEBrain networksOriginal HVMN VKE

Ketone Ester Stabilized Functional Brain Networks Versus Glucose

Mujica-Parodi et al. · PNAS · 2020
Positive

In the acute bolus experiment with healthy young adults, calorie-matched glucose and VKE produced opposite effects on functional brain-network stability: glucose destabilized networks while the ketone ester stabilized them.

Exact moleculeVeech Ketone Ester (VKE)
Dose395mg/kg
PopulationHealthy young-adult imaging cohorts
Study materialHVMN · original VKE product
View primary paper ↗Product named in published Methods.
VKEKetone saltsPharmacokinetics

Ketone Ester Produced Higher D-BHB Than Racemic Ketone Salts

Stubbs et al. · Frontiers in Physiology · 2017
Positive

Human pharmacokinetic experiments compared ketone ester and ketone-salt drinks and established major differences in D-BHB exposure, D- versus L-BHB handling, food effects and repeat-dose behavior.

Molecules testedVKE + racemic BHB salts
AreaHuman pharmacokinetics
PopulationHealthy adults
Study materialAcademic research program
Why 21 studies instead of all 75+?

The broader Veech Ketone Ester literature includes studies run in medical and disease-specific settings. This index deliberately covers non-medical human research — performance, exercise, cognition, recovery and ketone delivery. KetoneAid is a food, and medical-condition research is not used here to market our products for the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation, cure or prevention of disease.

Research material supplied by KetoneAid

Universities that have sourced Veech Ketone Ester from KetoneAid.

Harvard University
Duke University
University of Michigan
University of Copenhagen
Maastricht University
University of Alberta
Indiana University
University of British Columbia
Stony Brook University
KU Leuven
Aarhus University
Dublin City University

Research material supplied by KetoneAid. Institutional sourcing does not imply endorsement of KetoneAid or its consumer products.

How to read this database

Result labels summarize the highlighted endpoint — not the ketone meter.

Outcome classification

PositiveA statistically significant beneficial effect on the highlighted performance, cognition, recovery or physiological endpoint.
NeutralThe highlighted endpoint did not significantly differ from the comparator.
NegativeThe highlighted outcome was significantly worse in the ketone condition.
MixedMeaningful findings occurred in more than one direction — for example cognition improved while physical performance did not.

Exact molecule first.

A study using Veech Ketone Ester is categorized separately from R 1,3 butanediol, BHB salts and structurally different ketone esters.

Similar blood BHB does not make different molecules equivalent.

The point of this page is not to make every paper look positive. It is to make the evidence easy to inspect, including the studies where a measured endpoint did not move.

Current record: of the 21 studies indexed here, 15 are classified Positive and 6 are classified Mixed — meaning at least one measured endpoint showed no significant benefit. None is currently classified Neutral or Negative. The full four-point scale is published above so the classification cannot be redefined after the fact.

Seeking Principal Investigators

Conducting research with Veech Ketone Ester?

KetoneAid supplies Veech Ketone Ester (VKE) material to university research groups and is interested in supporting additional well-designed human research.

If you are planning research involving performance, cognition, exercise physiology, recovery, metabolism or pharmacokinetics, we would like to hear from you.

Research inquiry →
Study materialPure Veech Ketone Ester and KetoneAid formats can be discussed based on protocol requirements.
Existing experienceKetoneAid has supplied material to research groups in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Commercial independenceSupplying study material does not mean KetoneAid controls study design, analysis or publication.
Made in USAVeech Ketone Ester manufactured in the United States.
cGMP facilityProduced under established manufacturing controls.
Third-party testingBatch testing used for product quality verification.
WADA testingKetoneAid finished-product lots are tested for anti-doping compliance.

Frequently asked

About the research index.

Does “KetoneAid-supplied” mean KetoneAid conducted the study?

No. It means KetoneAid supplied the Veech Ketone Ester or a KetoneAid product used as study material. The independent researchers designed, conducted and analyzed their own work.

How do you determine which brand or supplier was used?

We prioritize the published Methods section or the conference abstract. When those sources do not state the supplier, we may use KetoneAid’s documented study-supply records and label that attribution accordingly. If the source cannot be verified, the card says the supplier was not stated.

Why are only 21 studies indexed when the research base is 75+?

The wider Veech Ketone Ester literature includes research conducted in medical and disease-specific populations. This index is curated to non-medical human research — performance, exercise, training, recovery, cognition and ketone delivery. The excluded studies are left out on purpose, not pending. KetoneAid is a food, and medical-condition research is not used here to market our products for the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation, cure or prevention of disease.

Why does this database only include Veech Ketone Ester studies?

Because this page documents the research base behind one exact molecule: (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate. Research on R 1,3 butanediol, BHB salts, D-BHB Free Acid and other ketone esters belongs in separate comparison content.

Does a higher blood BHB reading mean the study was positive?

No. Blood BHB is a pharmacokinetic measurement. Performance, cognition, recovery and other endpoints must be tested directly.

Are all Veech Ketone Ester studies positive?

No. Of the 21 studies indexed here, 15 are classified Positive and 6 are classified Mixed, meaning at least one measured endpoint showed no significant benefit — for example cognition improving while a time trial did not. Several VKE studies classified here as Mixed reported no benefit on important performance endpoints, and they are included rather than omitted.

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