Ketone ester diet in aged mice reduced age-associated B cell activation without impairing antibody responses
In 19-month-old mice, 15 weeks of a ketone ester diet reduced activation of age-associated B cells in the spleen, while antibody responses to immunization remained normal; 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 the proportion of age-associated B cells defined by CD11b and CD11c, but not the broader CD21−CD23− population. [1]
Mice on the ketone ester diet mounted a normal antibody response to nitrophenyl-ovalbumin immunization. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Preclinical mouse dietary intervention study (abstract only)
- Population / context
- Aged 19-month-old C57BL/6JN mice; isolated splenocytes from aged mice.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Publication status
- Preprint · peer-review status not confirmed
- Original publication
- April 22, 2026
Ketone ester diet tested in aged mice
The abstract describes an experiment in aged (19-month-old) C57BL/6JN mice given 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 there are no current established interventions for immune aging and describe exogenous ketones as a more accessible approach to obtaining ketone body effects.
Supporting source [1]
Lower 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, though not the broader CD21−CD23− population. Despite this decrease in 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.
Supporting source [1]
Direct B cell effects in isolated aged splenocytes
Treating splenocytes 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 the study clarifies effects of ketone esters on B cells in aging and reveals a new immunoregulatory role of ketone bodies on B cells.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This is an abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. Findings come from aged mice and isolated mouse splenocytes, not humans, and the abstract reports no human outcomes or clinical endpoints. The described effects are associations of a diet intervention in mice, not evidence of human immune or lifespan benefits.
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 · April 22, 2026