THE SPORTS SUPP OF 2018

Bleeding-edge ketone ‘esters’ are the cardio supplement of the future; but we know how to score a new PB today

Get the inside edge on this futuristic pill to pencil in a PB much sooner than you think

Searing lungs and leg muscles leaden with lactic acid – taking your fitness up a step often means elevating your pain threshold to new heights. But it’s no longer necessary to beast your body in search of superior stamina. Clinicians at the University of Cambridge have been harnessing a new fuel source to be taken as a supplement: ketone esters. In rat studies, these organic chemicals increased both time to fatigue and mental sharpness over a snack of fats or carbs. Usually it takes the physiological stress of starvation to kickstart ketone production – a process called ketosis, whereby your body goes into ‘survival mode’, breaking down internal fat stores to provide fast energy to muscles and mind. But now that we’re no longer hunting woolly mammoths, scientists are looking for an easier way to tap into this state.

Though human trials are in their infancy, Oxford University recently tested a ketone-based drink on 39 cyclists. They found this supplement – a simpler form of its ester cousin, similar to the ‘ bulletproof’ oils beloved by wellness biohackers – helped the body to switch from burning glucose for energy to fat, boosting riders’ performance during an endurance test by 400m. This could prove invaluable when you crash into the wall with the finish line in sight. While you’re waiting for consumer science to catch up, we have detailed some of the enduranceenhancing ingredients that can help you handle the hard yards right now.