Supplement
Exogenous ketones are ketone bodies made in a lab and swallowed, giving the body a fuel the liver normally produces during fasting or very low-carb eating. People look at them for metabolic health, and studies covering 586 participants found blood glucose improved, with moderate evidence, though the effect was small. For athletes the picture was weaker: two reviews found no clear difference in aerobic exercise performance, on very limited evidence.
Sources: PMID 32045881; PMID 35042186
- Updated
- How we grade
- 5 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade B
- Conditions studied
- 4
- Outcomes
- 14
- Graded outcomes
- 0111
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood glucose Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 586 people | |||
| Ketone Bodies | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 586 people | |||
Studies that measured ketone bodies | ||||||
General Cardiovascular Health
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood glucose Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 107 people | |||
| Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 107 people | |||
Studies that measured left ventricular ejection fraction | ||||||
| Blood Lactate (Exercise) | Changes; see studies | 107 people | ||||
| Blood Pressure | Improves (the measure goes down) | 107 people | ||||
| Cardiac Output | Improves (the measure goes up) | 107 people | ||||
| End-Diastolic Volume | Improves (the measure goes up) | 107 people | ||||
| Free Fatty Acids | Improves (the measure goes up) | 107 people | ||||
| Heart Rate | Improves (the measure goes down) | 107 people | ||||
| Insulin | Changes; see studies | 107 people | ||||
| Stroke Volume | Improves (the measure goes up) | 107 people | ||||
Aerobic Exercise Performance
- Aerobic Exercise Metrics
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobic Exercise Metrics No effect | NoneNo effect | 2 studies | 228 people | |||
Studies that measured aerobic exercise metrics | ||||||
Sleep Health
- Sleep Quality: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep Quality | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 89 people | |||
Studies that measured sleep quality | ||||||
Key findings
- Blood glucoseImproves (the measure goes down)
- Aerobic Exercise Metrics
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Third-party tested Exogenous Ketones products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade B
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Studies cited
5 studies from PubMed
- Effect of D-β-hydroxybutyrate on sleep quality in healthy participants: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
- Acute Ketone Supplementation and Exercise Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
- Acute Ingestion of Ketone Monoesters and Precursors Do Not Enhance Endurance Exercise Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- Targeting Ketone Body Metabolism Improves Cardiac Function and Hemodynamics in Patients With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- Effects of Exogenous Ketone Supplementation on Blood Glucose: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis