Ketone Ester (ΔG)

Category: ketone

Aliases: HVMN Ketone, ΔG, (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate, KE4

Pharmacological Mechanism

Designed by Kieran Clarke / DARPA (Oxford, 2008) and commercialised as HVMN Ketone. Two R-stereocenters — one on the BHB arm, one on the butanediol arm. Hydrolysed in the gut to R-BHB + R-1,3-butanediol; the latter is then liver-converted to another R-BHB. Net: 2 mol R-BHB per 1 mol ester. Raises plasma BHB to 2–5 mmol/L — much higher than salts. Pure R-form avoids the L-BHB ballast of racemic salts, and no cation load.

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 2h

Dosing Guidelines

• PO: Typical 16.7g (Range: 12.5 - 25 g)

Target Organ Systems

• nervous

Interactions

• R,S-1,3-Butanediol Ester of β-Hydroxybutyrate