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DOES ACUTE KETOSIS IMPROVE FINGER DEXTERITY OR COGNITION IN HYPOXIC AND COLD CONDITIONS?

Abstract

People live and work in mountainous environments, which consist of cold and hypoxic conditions. These conditions can induce a decline in dexterity and cognition. Ketone bodies have been shown to increase oxygen saturation in peripheral tissues, which protect against declines in dexterity and cognitive function. PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore how acute ketosis affects cognition, dexterity, and physiological elements in cold and moderate-altitude conditions. METHODS: Ten students from Gonzaga University were recruited ages 20-21. Male and Female genders were included, and lifestyle factors were controlled. Participants were placed into two groups: our control ate a normal western diet before testing, the other group fasted overnight to induce ketosis and consumed medium chain triglyceride oil prior to testing. Diets were switched and subjects underwent both dietary conditions on different testing days. Prior to the start of the test, hand-grip strength and cognition were measured. During the test, participants walked at 5.5 km/hr in -10 ℃ at 1219m for 30 mins; grip and pinch strength were tested twice during the testing protocol. Muscle and peripheral oxygen saturation along with volumes of inspired and expired air was measured continuously throughout the test. At the end of the test, all measurements were recorded again. RESULTS: There was not a significant change in the metabolic activity between the participants in ketosis and the western diet (p>0.05). Acute ketosis did not change the time that it took participants to complete the trail making test (p>0.05), or the accuracy of the stroop test (p>0.05). When dexterity was analyzed over the entire 30-minutes, there was not a significant change. When looking at the results over the entire 10 minutes there was a significant decrease is hand force for the first 20-minutes in both diets, however, in ketosis participants continued to have a significant decrease in force production. In the lateral pinch test when participants were in the western diet there was not a significant decrease if finger force, but in ketosis there was a significant decrease from the start to 30-minutes (p=0.027).

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