{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T04:36:43Z","timestamp":1787027803004,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,27]],"date-time":"2022-08-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1661558400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"An unrestricted gift to support ketogenic research to The Ohio State University as well as partial support and study product from Pruvit Ventures"},{"name":"An unrestricted gift to support ketogenic research at The Ohio State University"},{"name":"Metagenics, Inc."}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Brain Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF) expression is decreased in conditions associated with cognitive decline as well as metabolic diseases. One potential strategy to improve metabolic health and elevate BDNF is by increasing circulating ketones. Beta-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB) stimulates BDNF expression, but the association of circulating BHB and plasma BDNF in humans has not been widely studied. Here, we present results from three studies that evaluated how various methods of inducing ketosis influenced plasma BDNF in humans. Study 1 determined BDNF responses to a single bout of high-intensity cycling after ingestion of a dose of ketone salts in a group of healthy adults who were habitually consuming either a mixed diet or a ketogenic diet. Study 2 compared how a ketogenic diet versus a mixed diet impacts BDNF levels during a 12-week resistance training program in healthy adults. Study 3 examined the effects of a controlled hypocaloric ketogenic diet, with and without daily use of a ketone-salt, on BDNF levels in overweight\/obese adults. We found that (1) fasting plasma BDNF concentrations were lower in keto-adapted versus non keto-adapted individuals, (2) intense cycling exercise was a strong stimulus to rapidly increase plasma BDNF independent of ketosis, and (3) clinically significant weight loss was a strong stimulus to decrease fasting plasma BDNF independent of diet composition or level of ketosis. These results highlight the plasticity of plasma BDNF in response to lifestyle factors but does not support a strong association with temporally matched BHB concentrations.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/brainsci12091143","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,28]],"date-time":"2022-08-28T21:22:56Z","timestamp":1661721776000},"page":"1143","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":18,"title":["Influence of Nutritional Ketosis Achieved through Various Methods on Plasma Concentrations of Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5527-9529","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Madison L.","family":"Kackley","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Kinesiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8509-4330","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alex","family":"Buga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Kinesiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chris D.","family":"Crabtree","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Kinesiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Teryn N.","family":"Sapper","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Kinesiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5950-0120","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Craig A.","family":"McElroy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, 06 The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Brian C.","family":"Focht","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Kinesiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"William J.","family":"Kraemer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Kinesiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8702-0351","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jeff S.","family":"Volek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Kinesiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1748","DOI":"10.1210\/mend.15.10.0706","article-title":"Conditional deletion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the postnatal brain leads to obesity and hyperactivity","volume":"15","author":"Rios","year":"2001","journal-title":"Mol. 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