Acute Ketone Salts-Caffeine-Taurine-Leucine Supplementation but not Ketone Salts-Taurine-Leucine, Improves Endurance Cycling Performance

Thirteen recreationally active men completed a 20 km cycling time trial followed by a Wingate test after three supplements: ketone salts with caffeine, taurine and leucine (KCT, about 7 g beta-hydroxybutyrate and 120 mg caffeine), the same without caffeine (KT), or an isoenergetic dextrose placebo (CHO-PLAC). Blood ketones were elevated with both KCT and KT relative to placebo. KCT improved 20 km time (37.80 min) compared with placebo (39.40 min, p < 0.003) but not versus KT (38.75 min, p < 0.09). Average power was greater with KCT (180.5 W) than KT (170.9 W) or placebo (164.8 W).