Ketogenesis is Dispensable for the Metabolic Adaptations to Caloric Restriction.

ABSTRACT: Caloric restriction (CR) extends the health and lifespan of diverse species. When fed once daily, CR-treated mice rapidly consume their food and endure a prolonged fast between meals. As fasting is associated with a rise in circulating ketone bodies, we investigated the role of ketogenesis in CR using mice with whole-body ablation of Hmgcs2, the rate-limiting enzyme producing the main ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB). Here, we report that Hmgcs2 is largely dispensable for many metabolic benefits of CR, including CR-driven changes in adiposity, glycemic control, liver autophagy, and energy balance. Although we observed sex-specific effects of Hmgcs2 on insulin sensitivity, fuel selection, and adipocyte gene expression, the overall physiological response to CR remained robust in mice lack

SUBMITTER: Yeh CY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12741194 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature