Ketone Pills: Do They Work?

The ketogenic diet is essentially a caveman twist on the low-carb craze started by Dr. Atkins during the 1970’s. From prime cuts of beef to cheese-laden omelettes, the fat and protein centered diet is not just a popular option for men looking to lose weight, but also those hoping to pack on extra muscle. There is a good deal of variation too, with more “paleo” style versions focusing on leaner meats and fiber-rich vegetables, while others embrace a more primal menu of bacon, beef, and fatty meats.

While the scientific community seems to waffle back and forth on the diet’s merits, health, fitness, and bodybuilding forums and communities across the web swear by keto’s principles, and given the well-supported success of carb-cutting, there’s clearly something to it. Inevitably, products that capitalize on the popularity and success of the trend are already hitting vitamin and supplement stores, with the latest of these being ketone pills. But do they work?

The logic behind the supplement ultimately rests in the one of the body’s reactions from undergoing a ketogenic diet. When carbohydrates within the body are kept at a minimum, with most diet followers sticking to about 20 to 50 grams per day mostly from fibrous vegetable sources, it enters a metabolic state known as ketosis, where the body relies on metabolizing fat for energy. This includes both consumed fat and, more importantly for men looking to lose weight, the supply of excess fat stored on the body.

This state is achievable both by low carbohydrate diets and through periods of fasting and is a normal part of the metabolism. While in a state of ketosis, blood concentration of ketones, a byproduct produced by the liver, start to rise. The logic of the supplement is that by upping the presence of ketones in the bloodstream, the body can be tricked into thinking it is deprived of carbohydrates and thus enter ketosis without actually having to stick to the diet. Unfortunately, the body is much smarter than the supplement’s creators give it credit for. Ketones are a byproduct of the ketogenic diet and not the actual cause of its fat-burning potential.

In the end, while there is some solid anecdotal and scientific backing for men who swear by the ketogenic diet, ketone pills misinterpret just why the diet works so well for some. Producing a byproduct of ketosis is not the same as actually being in a ketogenic state, making these supplements not worth it for weightlifters or those looking to shed some extra fat.