Raspberry Ketone

Last Updated: September 28 2022

Raspberry ketone is a molecule marketed as a fat burning compound. Oral doses of this supplement are not effective.

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Raspberry Ketone is most often used for

Summary

Raspberry ketone is the compound responsible for many flavoring and aromatic qualities of cosmetics and processed foods.

When present in high doses, raspberry ketone can exert fat burning effects on various areas of the fat cell. These effects may be similar to those of ephedrine and synephrine.

It should be noted that all evidence for the effects of raspberry ketone has only been observed in vitro (in a test tube). Though researchers are able to raise the concentrations of ketones in a single cell during studies, these same concentrations cannot be replicated in the human body, particularly through oral supplementation.

What else is Raspberry Ketone known as?
Note that Raspberry Ketone is also known as:
  • 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl) butan-2-one
  • p-hydroxybenzyl acetone
Raspberry Ketone should not be confused with:
  • Ketone Monoester
  • Ketone Diester
  • Ketone Salts
Dosage information

There is no human evidence for the effects of raspberry ketones. Studies on rats have used a dosage range of .545-2.18g/kg, which correlates to a human estimated dose of 80-340mg/kg for humans. This dose is very high compared to other fat burning compounds, so for that reason the standard supplemental dose of raspberry ketones for humans is in the 100-200mg range. There is no solid evidence for the effectiveness of the doses listed below. Rat dosages correlate to the following human doses:

  • 870-3,700mg for a 150lb person
  • 1,100-5,000mg for a 200lb person
  • 1,500-6,200mg for a 250lb person

There is no human evidence for the effectiveness of raspberry ketones. Raspberry ketones cannot be concentrated in the human body the same way they are concentrated during studies done outside the body, on single cells.

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References
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4.^Beekwilder J, van der Meer IM, Sibbesen O, Broekgaarden M, Qvist I, Mikkelsen JD, Hall RDMicrobial production of natural raspberry ketoneBiotechnol J.(2007 Oct)
5.^Feron G, Mauvais G, Martin F, Sémon E, Blin-Perrin CMicrobial production of 4-hydroxybenzylidene acetone, the direct precursor of raspberry ketoneLett Appl Microbiol.(2007 Jul)
6.^Gaunt IF, Sharratt M, Colley J, Lansdown AB, Grasso PAcute and short-term toxicity of p-hydroxybenzyl acetone in ratsFood Cosmet Toxicol.(1970 Aug)
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13.^Gaunt IF, Sharratt M, Colley J, Lansdown AB, Grasso PAcute and short-term toxicity of p-hydroxybenzyl acetone in ratsFood Cosmet Toxicol.(1970 Aug)
16.^Morimoto C, Satoh Y, Hara M, Inoue S, Tsujita T, Okuda HAnti-obese action of raspberry ketoneLife Sci.(2005 May 27)
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