The goal of this study is to investigate if oral ketone supplementation stimulates mitochondrial ATP production and improves exercise performance in patients with chronic HF. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over design, subjects will either receive a supplemental drink containing a commercially available ketone ester (DeltaG®, 500 mg/kg body weight), or a taste matched, isovolumic placebodrink and will then perform the 31P MRS exercise protocol. After 1-2 weeks, subjects will cross-over and repeat the 31P MRS exercise protocol, this time receiving the other treatment. Endpoints include rate and magnitude of change in phosphocreatine (PCr) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) concentrations from baseline to maximum exercise, rate and magnitude of change in PCr and Pi concentrations during recovery, rates and magnitude of change in intramuscular pH during exercise and recovery, maximal exercise performance and change in concentrations of beta-hydroxybutyrate and other metabolites before consumption of the supplemental drink, after consumption of the supplemental drink and after exercise.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over design, subjects will either receive a supplemental drink containing a commercially available ketone ester (DeltaG®, 500 mg/kg body weight), or a taste matched, isovolumic placebodrink and will then perform the 31phosphorus Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (31P MRS) exercise protocol. After 1-2 weeks, subjects will cross-over and repeat the 31P MRS exercise protocol, this time receiving the other treatment.