Dietary supplements based on the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate

Peer-reviewed | Manuscript received: March 23, 2018 | Revision accepted: July 23, 2018

Market analysis and evaluation of ingredients of supplements used in the USA

Introduction

The original founder of the low-carb diet is William Banting, who published his “Letter on Corpulence, Addressed to the Public” in 1865. In this letter, he criticized the increasing obesity of the population. In his view, the cause was certain foods such as bread, butter, milk, potatoes, sugar, and beer. The resulting meat-, fish-, and alcohol-heavy diet bears little resemblance to modern habits [1]. In the 1970s, Dr. Atkins’ book launched a new trend in low-carb, high-fat diets (LCHF or HFLC) [2]. The first two books sold 12 million copies and achieved cult status [3].

In more recent years, there has been a continuous growth in low-carb diets. The health merits of various versions of the diet with different fat, protein, and carbohydrate contents are the subject of much discussion. Some versions are diets that closely correspond to a ketogenic diet and contain less than 50 g of carbohydrate per day (very low-carb, high-fat – VLCHF) [4, 5]. In the U.S. News Diet Rankings, the Atkins, Eco-Atkins and Keto diets were shortlisted by 24 experts for the categories of best overall diet, best for weight loss, and best for rapid weight loss. The rating was generally better for the Atkins-based diets. In the category for rapid weight loss, the ketogenic diet (kD) even came 13th. On the other hand, the kD only achieved 39th place in the overall assessment [6–8].

Abstract

The use of β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB) as a supplement to the everyday diet is a new development in the lifestyle supplement market. In the USA, the market is growing and the composition of the products varies greatly. The supplements are mainly postulated to be useful for providing energy, for weight loss, for increasing athletic performance, improving mental performance, and increasing the level of ketone bodies in the blood. Using βHB supplements in the form of a salt has the unfavorable effect of increasing intake of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Depending on the salt composition used, it is possible for these supplements to cause the reference values to be exceeded by up to five times. Based on the currently available research, side effects cannot be ruled out. The available research currently supports the appetite-reducing effect of ketone bodies. Further research is required to confirm their effectiveness with regard to the other publicized areas of application, such as targeted fat loss, weight loss, and increased performance (cognitive and physiological). However, exogenous intake of ketone bodies could be advantageous in the clinical field, for example in supporting a medically necessary ketogenic diet and making it easier to follow.

Keywords: β-hydroxybutyrate, ketone bodies, supplements, market analysis, ketogenic diet

Full text PDF (free access)