Ketone ester diet in aged mice: less age-associated B cell activation, normal antibody response
In 19-month-old mice, 15 weeks of a ketone ester diet reduced activation of age-associated B cells in the spleen without impairing the antibody response to immunization; the abstract reports no human data. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Aged 19-month-old C57BL/6JN mice received a ketone ester-supplemented diet or a control diet for 15 weeks. [1]
The ketone ester diet reduced activation of age-associated B cells in the spleen without impairing the antibody response to nitrophenyl-ovalbumin immunization. [1]
In spleen cells from aged mice, β-hydroxybutyrate suppressed B cell translation and reduced mTORC1 signaling, suggesting a direct effect on B cells. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Animal experiment reported in an abstract (mouse diet study plus cell experiments)
- Population / context
- 19-month-old C57BL/6JN mice; isolated spleen cells from aged mice.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Publication status
- Preprint · peer-review status not confirmed
- Original publication
- September 3, 2026
Ketone ester diet tested in aged mice
The abstract describes an experiment in aged mice: 19-month-old C57BL/6JN mice received either a diet supplemented with a ketone ester or a control diet for 15 weeks. The stated question was whether ketone ester supplementation improves immune function during aging. The authors note that no established interventions for immune aging currently exist and that exogenous ketones are being studied as a more accessible way to obtain ketone bodies. This is an animal study; the abstract reports no human participants.
Supporting source [1]
Less B cell activation, normal antibody response
The ketone ester diet decreased activation of B cells, especially age-associated B cells, in the spleen. It also reduced the proportion of age-associated B cells defined by CD11b and CD11c expression, but not the broader CD21 CD23– population. Despite this lower activation, antibody production was not impaired: mice on the ketone ester diet mounted a normal response to nitrophenyl-ovalbumin immunization. The diet also reduced glucose dependence and translation in subsets of age-associated B cells. These are associations measured in mice, not evidence of a human benefit.
Supporting source [1]
Direct B cell effects in lab experiments
Treating spleen cells from aged mice with β-hydroxybutyrate was sufficient to suppress B cell translation and reduced mTORC1 signaling, which the authors interpret as ketone bodies acting directly on B cells. β-hydroxybutyrate also decreased expression of T-bet, described as the signature transcription factor driving the autoimmune functions of age-associated B cells. The authors conclude that the study shows an effect of ketone esters on B cells during aging and a new immunoregulatory role of ketone bodies on B cells. These cell experiments support a mechanism but do not show improved immune function or lifespan in humans.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This is an abstract; the full text was not reviewed. Findings come from mice and isolated spleen cells, not humans. The abstract reports no sample sizes beyond the mouse age, no survival or lifespan outcome and no clinical endpoints. Reduced B cell activation is an association in this model, not proof of improved immunity or disease prevention in people.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Adkisson-Floro A, Tiwari R, Nomura M, Riley RR, Kwok R, Sellegounder D, Khalid MM, Kasler HG, Newman JC, Verdin E. · europepmc.org · September 3, 2026