β-hydroxybutyrate and its metabolic effects on age-associated pathology

Age-associated disease: Possible metabolic therapy Boosting levels of a byproduct of fatty acid breakdown may help alleviate the symptoms of age-associated health conditions. When the body is low on glucose, it breaks down fatty acids for energy, generating byproduct metabolites called ketones. The ketone beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-HB) regulates cellular signaling and gene and protein expression. There are indications that ketogenic diets or ketone administration, which increase beta-BH may prevent ageing-associated progression of illnesses like cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Young-min Han and co-workers at Georgia State University in Atlanta, USA, reviewed current understanding of beta-BH and its molecular targets. beta-BH is a potent metabolite small enough to filter through cell membranes and circulate throughout the body, including the brain, influencing signaling pathways. Further investigations into associated molecular mechanisms will verify the metabolite's potential as a therapeutic agent. Aging is a universal process that renders individuals vulnerable to many diseases. Although this process is irreversible, dietary modulation and caloric restriction are often considered to have antiaging effects. Dietary modulation can increase and maintain circulating ketone bodies, especially beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-HB), which is one of the most abundant ketone bodies in human circulation. Increased beta-HB has been reported to prevent or improve the symptoms of various age-associated diseases. Indeed, numerous studies have reported that a ketogenic diet or ketone ester administration alleviates symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers. Considering the potential of beta-HB and the intriguing data emerging from in vivo and in vitro experiments as well as clinical trials, this therapeutic area is worthy of attention. In this review, we highlight studies that focus on the identified targets of beta-HB and the cellular signals regulated by beta-HB with respect to alleviation of age-associated ailments.