Ketones are natural chemicals that give raspberries their enticing aroma. It is a naturally occurring phenolic compound that is also found in berries like blackberries, cranberries, and other fruits. Although raspberry ketones have been used to add fragrance and as a flavoring agent to foods and products like colas, ice cream, cosmetics, candles, soaps, and candies for many years, they have recently gained attention as a weight loss product for their alleged "miracle fat burner" status.

Raspberry ketone is a chemical from red raspberries that is thought to help with weight gain and obesity. Some research suggests that raspberry ketone might increase metabolism, increase the rate at which the body burns fat, and reduce appetite. 

Raspberry ketones have a similar molecular structure to capsaicin, a chemical found in some peppers, and synephrine, a compound in oranges. Since ketones, capsaicin, and synephrine are chemically related, this is the reason they support fat loss.

The raspberry ketone is actually one of the most expensive products used in the food industry, and the natural compound itself can cost as much as $20,000 per kilogram. Plus, the extraction of pure raspberry ketones requires a crazy amount of raspberries. Extraction occurs through hydrogenation and takes about a kilogram of raspberries (over 2 pounds) to make 1.4 milligrams of raspberry ketones.

Considering a standard raspberry ketone supplemental dose for humans is around 100–200 milligrams, that's an insane amount of raspberry fruits!

Eating raspberries may reduce chronic inflammation, which experts believe to play a role in the development of numerous health conditions.

By reducing inflammation, raspberries may also lower the risk of:

• diabetes
• cardiovascular disease
• cancer
• arthritis

One study found that red raspberries reduced swelling and other symptoms of arthritis in rats with this condition, but there is a need for more studies to investigate this effect.

A 2016 study, funded by the National Raspberry Council and published in the Journal of Berry Research, found that high-fat-fed mice given a variety of raspberry products, including ketones, appeared to have gained less weight than their raspberry-deprived peers.

Some research in rodents and test tubes shows that raspberry ketones might increase measures of metabolism and affect a hormone in the body called adiponectin, which regulates metabolism. Raspberry ketones are claimed to cause the fat within cells to be broken down more effectively, which helps the body burn fat faster.

A piece of good scientific evidence in 2005 by Japanese researchers found out that red raspberry ketones were effective for reducing obesity in mice fed with high-fat diets.

A subsequent study done in Korea in 2010 confirmed that red raspberry ketones prevented obesity in male mice on a high-fat diet. The mechanism of action is thought to be an increase in the breakdown of fat cells. That may be great news for mice, but it says nothing about whether the product is safe or effective for people.

Raspberry ketone is a chemical from red raspberries that is thought to help with obesity. Some research in animals or in test tubes shows that raspberry ketone might increase metabolism, increase the rate at which the body burns fat, and reduce appetite. But as mentioned, there is no reliable scientific evidence that raspberry ketone improves weight loss in humans.

In one small study, people who took 200 milligrams of raspberry ketones combined with 1,200 mg of vitamin C daily for 4 weeks lost weight and fat. However, the study did not follow good scientific methods. It doesn't show whether any benefit was from either the vitamin C or the raspberry ketones or from the combination.

Read more about Raspberry Ketones and its Benefits. 

There is no clinical data on potential drug interactions with raspberry ketones. Researchers have not yet conducted sufficient research to know how raspberry ketones might interact with other drugs. Consult with your physician before taking any new supplement. 

Remember, weight loss supplements cannot guarantee immediate weight loss results. To effectively lose body weight, we strongly recommend eating a healthy and balanced diet, exercising, and taking raspberry ketone supplements on the side.

As always, consult a health care professional if you have underlying medical conditions before taking any dietary supplement or weight loss product.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.