Groundbreaking Study Explores Ketone Supplementation

The ketogenic diet is proven to help people drop pounds, but it’s not always easy to maintain. Research on ketone supplements in mice points to the potential to stay in ketosis without the carb restriction.

Ketone Supplement Study

Research published in FASEB Journal suggests ketone supplements may increase the overall effectiveness of the keto diet. The study showed mice who ate a high-fat diet and took ketone supplements dropped more body fat and decreased their weight ¹ . One of the constant struggles of the low-carb lifestyle is ensuring that you remain in ketosis; too many carbs or even too much protein can kick you out of ketosis quickly. These results point to the potential of ketone supplementation for humans looking to shed body fat and weight.

The study ran for 12 weeks and included three groups of obese mice. The first group ate a high-fat diet and served as the control group. Group Two ate a high-fat diet and took ketone supplements. The third group ate large amounts of fat but reduced calories by 25 percent to make up for the caloric drop from the supplements. Even though the first and third groups ate a similar amount of calories, the mice on the ketone supplements lost more weight, despite consuming the most calories of the three groups. Scientists still aren’t sure if the supplementation increased the body’s fat-burning or reduced the calories available for fat storage.

Potential for Humans

The battle of the bulge is a struggle people know too well. This research could point people towards a supplement that helps them lose excess weight and keep it off. Another study out of the National Institutes of Health found that ketone supplementation in rats contributed to reduced glucose levels and more extended periods of ketosis ² . The rats experienced ketosis faster even without changes to their diet.

Scientists worried that the supplements might elevate triglycerides, but this wasn’t the case. Now researchers want to know if these supplements provide similar results for humans. The ketogenic diet is already a treatment option for people with certain diseases. Moreover, the American Medical Association studied its effects on people with Type 2 Diabetes and had promising results . They also cited that a diet low in sugar, refined carbs, and processed foods was superior , even without counting calories.

Help With Maintenance

People know that limiting simple carbohydrates and sugars is good for their health. Even so, it’s not the easiest lifestyle change to stick with. Supplementation could help people stay in ketosis for longer without the stress of constant keto meal prep.