In rats, a specific dose of a ketone body made the heart pump more blood per beat and overall without changing how fast the heart beats.
Scientific Claim
In male Sprague Dawley rats, intraperitoneal administration of 1.32 g/kg racemic sodium 3-hydroxybutyrate increased cardiac output by 28.3±7.8% and stroke volume by 22.4±6.0% compared to equimolar sodium chloride, with no significant change in heart rate.
Original Statement
“Relative to the osmotic control, 3-OHB raised cardiac output by 28.3±7.8% due to an increase in stroke volume of 22.4±6.0% with no change in heart rate (Fig. 1B).”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
definitive
Can make definitive causal claims
Assessment Explanation
The controlled rat experiment with direct measurement supports definitive causal language for the specific experimental conditions.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Ketone body 3-hydroxybutyrate elevates cardiac output through peripheral vasorelaxation and enhanced cardiac contractility