Cétones exogènes : de la NASA aux biohackers

Exogenous Ketones: from NASA to biohackers

⏱️ Temps de lecture : environ 4 minutes

Exogenous ketones fascinate both researchers and longevity enthusiasts. Born from ambitious military projects, they moved from NASA and DARPA labs to the bottles of athletes and biohackers. But what does science — and experience — really tell us about their role in performance and longevity?

From natural ketosis to exogenous ketones

For more than a century, ketosis has been studied as a survival mechanism. The ketogenic diet was first used in the 1920s to treat drug-resistant epilepsy [1]. During fasting, the liver naturally produces ketones — β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), acetoacetate, and acetone — which serve as an alternative fuel to glucose. These molecules provide stable energy and appear to activate longevity pathways such as autophagy and mitochondrial protection [2].

Exogenous ketones (salts and esters) were created to rapidly raise blood ketone levels without strict fasting or ketogenic dieting.

A military and space project first

In the 2000s, DARPA (the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) launched the Metabolic Dominance program to improve soldiers’ performance under extreme conditions (oxygen deprivation, prolonged stress, forced fasting). The goal: to develop a cellular fuel more efficient than glucose [3].

Researcher Richard Veech (NIH) then developed the first ketone esters. His studies, tested in laboratories and later in humans, showed that it was possible to sustain high ketone levels for several hours [4]. NASA also became interested in ketones for energy supply in space missions [5].

Entering the market

This research opened the door for two key players:

  • H.V.M.N. / Ketone-IQ: pioneers in ketone ester commercialization, based on DARPA/NIH and Oxford University research [6].

  • Pruvit: a company that popularized ketone salts through wide MLM distribution.

Their launch marked the transition of exogenous ketones from battlefield fuel to everyday biohacking tool.

What science says

Scientific studies highlight several potential benefits:

  1. Brain energy – The brain naturally runs on glucose. But when ketones are sufficiently available (fasting, ketogenic diet, or supplementation), they become a preferred fuel. BHB can cover up to 70% of brain energy needs, offering a more efficient combustion with fewer free radicals [7][8].

  2. Sports performance – Cyclists supplemented with ketone esters demonstrated improved endurance and recovery [9].

  3. Appetite and metabolism – Exogenous ketones can influence appetite-related hormones like ghrelin [10].

  4. Neuroprotection – Ketones are studied for their potential in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease [11].

  5. Inflammation – BHB acts as an anti-inflammatory signal by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome [12].

Limitations

  • Short-lived effect: exogenous ketosis lasts only a few hours.

  • No fat burning: they don’t force the body to mobilize its own fat.

  • Digestive tolerance: discomfort is common with salts.

  • High cost: especially for quality esters.

When to use them wisely

In a Vāhana approach, exogenous ketones are not a magic solution but a targeted tool:

  • to ease the transition into ketosis (reducing “keto flu”),

  • to support mental clarity during high cognitive demand,

  • to enhance endurance performance,

  • to extend the benefits of a metabolic fast.

Longevity verdict

Exogenous ketones are a fascinating innovation, born from military and space needs. But they don’t replace fasting or metabolic flexibility. Their role is as a complementary lever — useful, but never central.

True longevity lies in the body’s ability to naturally switch between glucose and ketones. Supplements can help… but metabolic training remains the real secret.

References

  1. Wilder RM. The effects of ketonemia on the course of epilepsy. Mayo Clin Proc. 1921.

  2. Newman JC, Verdin E. β-hydroxybutyrate: A signaling metabolite. Annu Rev Nutr. 2017;37:51–76. [PubMed PMID: 28715993]

  3. Clarke K. Metabolic dominance project. DARPA report, 2003.

  4. Veech RL, et al. Ketone esters as a therapeutic and nutritional supplement. Annu Rev Nutr. 2014;34:253–281. [PubMed PMID: 25087259]

  5. NASA Tech Briefs. Ketone esters for space applications. 2010.

  6. Cox PJ, et al. Nutritional ketone ester alters fuel preference and endurance performance in athletes. Cell Metab. 2016;24(2):256–268. [PubMed PMID: 27475046]

  7. Owen OE, et al. Brain metabolism during fasting. J Clin Invest. 1967;46(10):1589–1595. [PubMed PMID: 6061736]

  8. Veech RL. The therapeutic implications of ketone bodies. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2004;70(3):309–319. [PubMed PMID: 14769489]

  9. Evans M, et al. Exogenous ketone supplements and endurance exercise. Front Physiol. 2017;8:848. [PubMed PMID: 29163018]

  10. Stubbs BJ, et al. Appetite suppression and exogenous ketones. Obesity. 2018;26(2):269–273. [PubMed PMID: 29235169]

  11. Kashiwaya Y, et al. Ketone bodies and neuroprotection. J Lipid Res. 2013;54(8):1980–1998. [PubMed PMID: 23649663]

  12. Youm YH, et al. The ketone metabolite β-hydroxybutyrate blocks NLRP3 inflammasome–mediated inflammatory disease. Nat Med. 2015;21(3):263–269. [PubMed PMID: 25686106]


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