A groundbreaking clinical trial led by KU Leuven, Europe’s premier human performance research institute, and tested on the elite athletes of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, the powerhouse of the Tour de France, offers a roadmap to the future of elite performance. Conducted in collaboration with Ketone-IQ, originally developed following a joint $6 million U.S. Special Operations Command research contract, the study explores just how far human performance can go with the right fuel.

"We weren’t just looking for a marginal gain,” one KU Leuven researcher noted. “We wanted to see if ketones could fundamentally shift how the body recovers under stress."

The trial focused on three critical biomarkers, chosen for their direct impact on endurance and recovery. The results were clear: Ketone-IQ delivered measurable improvements in:

1. EPO — more red blood cells to carry oxygen.
2. Angiogenesis — new red blood vessel formation
3. Vascular function — faster blood transport through existing blood vessels.

And while these markers are key for elite performance, they also reflect broader metabolic health. More cellular energy, faster recovery, and better circulation benefit everyone—on and off the bike.

What is Ketone-IQ?

Ketone- IQ is natures superfuel, our bodies make ketones naturally, and our brains especially rely on them as an efficient source of energy. Ketones are a caloric energy your body uses, just like carbs, fats, or protein, with distinct advantages. That’s why scientists now call ketones the fourth macronutrient.

Unlike sugar, ketones don’t cause energy crashes. Unlike caffeine, you don’t build a tolerance. Ketone-IQ provides sustained energy that supports both mental and physical performance.

Originally developed for elite athletes and special operations forces, ketones were once a $25,000-per-dose experimental fuel reserved for the highest levels of performance. Today, Ketone-IQ is available for just $4 to $5 per serving at ketone.com and national retailers like Sprouts and The Vitamin Shoppe—bringing advanced energy science from the front lines to everyday life.

Who it’s for:

• Pro Athletes and Altitude Trainers
• Recreational Athletes
• Everyday Energy Seekers

Ketone-IQ is a next-generation exogenous ketone supplement that delivers 10g of ketones per serving. All ingredients are World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) compliant and approved for use at all levels of sport. Every batch is third-party tested to ensure 100% regulatory compliance, giving you peace of mind with every dose. Ketone-IQ is fermented sustainably from 100% renewable sugars.

Ketone-IQ is also NSF Certified for Sport, meeting the highest standards of safety and purity for elite competition.

Breaking Down the KU Leuven Study Results

💡Endurance exercise alone stimulates increases in EPO, angiogenesis, and vascular function. Training at altitude further amplifies these effects by creating a hypoxic environment that signals the body to adapt more aggressively. Supplementing with Ketone-IQ builds on both, enhancing these same pathways. Each method provides benefits on its own, but combining any two—or all three—yields the greatest impact.

1. Ketone-IQ Triggers Natural EPO Production

   • Erythropoietin (EPO) is the hormone that tells your body to produce more red blood cells. This is a key advantage for endurance, stamina, and adaptation.
     In this study, Ketone-IQ was shown to naturally elevate EPO levels.
   • The outcome: Ketone-IQ increased EPO in the study, and EPO is a hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells. Increasing greater oxygen-carrying capacity, and enhanced performance powered by your own biology.

2. Ketone-IQ Promotes Angiogenesis

   • Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels within muscle tissue. This process enhances circulation, allowing for better nutrient delivery and more efficient waste removal at the cellular level. 
     In this study, Ketone-IQ was shown to increase angiogenesis in response to training stress.
   • The outcome: stronger circulation, faster muscle recovery, and better long-term adaptation to endurance training.

3. Ketone-IQ Enhances Vascular Function

   • Vascular function refers to how efficiently blood vessels expand and contract to manage blood flow. A key part of this is vasodilation, the relaxation of blood vessels, which helps maintain steady circulation, especially under physical stress.
     In the study, Ketone-IQ improved vasodilation, enabling better blood flow even after intense exercise.
   • The Outcome:
     • Within sessions: The study showed improved muscle oxygenation and oxygen efficiency during effort, which directly supports performance during a workout (i.e., “within” the session).
     • Between sessions: The combination of enhancements in angiogenesis, EPO production, and vasodilation contribute to an even greater amplification of faster recovery and better adaptation.
       

The EPO Controversy and the Promise of Ketones

Recap: The Role of EPO

Erythropoietin, or EPO, drives red blood cell production, boosting oxygen delivery, endurance, and recovery. Through endurance training, high-altitude exposure, nutrients like iron or nitrates, and — as this study showed — Ketone-IQ, the body can naturally increase EPO levels.

Why EPO Has a Bad Rap

EPO is one of the most effective and controversial tools in endurance sports.

Why the controversy? Two reasons: it works, and synthetic EPO is banned in competition.

For decades, synthetic EPO has fueled some of the biggest doping scandals in sport. While it boosts performance by increasing red blood cells, it is illegal in most sports and dangerous when misused.

The Opportunity

This is where Ketone-IQ presents a unique opportunity to enhance your body’s natural EPO production, as demonstrated in the KU Leuven study.

There are no injections, no banned substances, and full compliance with anti-doping regulations—just like altitude training or iron supplementation. Ketone-IQ is safe, effective, and has no known long-term side effects. Ketone-IQ provides a new, targeted way to support natural EPO production.

Inside the Study

💡The following is a sneak peek at the clinical study conducted by KU Leuven on Team Visma | Lease a Bike in collaboration with Ketone-IQ. The research is currently under peer review, with full publication expected in the summer of 2025.

Participants and Protocol

Fifteen healthy, highly trained cyclists (13 male, 2 female) participated in the study. Each had an elite-level VO₂ max, over 55 mL/kg/min for men and 45 mL/kg/min for women. The study was randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, and cross over in design. Each participant completed four sessions with a one week washout in between.

Normoxia vs. Hypoxia Recovery

After a 60 minute high intensity interval cycling session, athletes recovered either at sea level (normoxia) or at a simulated altitude of 3,000 meters (hypoxia), mimicking extreme environmental stress. During recovery, participants received either Ketone-IQ or a taste matched placebo in hourly doses.

Measurement Tools

The study used advanced tools to assess both macro and microvascular function, including:

• Vascular Occlusion Testing (VOT): To evaluate blood flow and reoxygenation speed.
• Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS): To track muscle oxygen saturation in real time.
• Ultrasound Imaging: To measure artery diameter and blood velocity.
• Pulse Oximetry & Blood Pressure Monitoring: To track systemic responses during recovery.

This protocol ensured that the physiological impact of Ketone-IQ was assessed rigorously, in both controlled and stress loaded environments.

What’s Next

While full results from KU Leuven’s clinical research on Ketone-IQ are under peer review and set to publish soon, the early data is clear, ketones are reshaping what’s possible in human performance.

As for Ketone-IQ, we will continuing to partner with world-class research institutions, professional athletes, and elite military operators to explore additional new frontiers in endurance, recovery, cognition, and metabolic health. We’re committed to continuing to support research and expand access to the benefits of ketones far beyond the lab or the podium.

Because better energy is the raw material behind all human achievement.