What Do Raspberry Ketones Do to Your Body, and How Long Does It Take to See Results?

Many people use dietary supplements and nutraceuticals to aid weight loss and improve health. The global market for these products reached a value of almost $353 billion in 2019. Despite this widespread popularity, though, the nutraceutical industry remains poorly regulated and under-researched. Raspberry ketones are one particularly controversial dietary supplement that has gained popularity in recent years. 

Fans of raspberry ketone claim that this supplement can fight obesity and help people lose or maintain weight. However, researchers have not determined if raspberry ketone impacts health and weight. 

Read on to learn about this compound's potential health benefits and risks.  

Raspberry ketone is a naturally-occurring compound that gives the European red raspberry its distinctive aroma and taste. Though the name suggests that this compound is particular to raspberries, it also occurs naturally in numerous other plants, including: 

• Apples
• Berries
• Certain vegetables
• Grapes
• Maple, pine, and yew bark
• Peaches

Manufacturers use two methods to obtain the raspberry ketone compound: 

• Extraction from natural plant materials. It’s possible to extract raspberry ketone from raspberries and other plants. However, raspberries only contain a low concentration of this chemical, and the amount extracted can vary by location and season. As a result, this method is very expensive, with each kilogram of natural raspberry ketone costing $3,000 to $20,000 to extract. 
• Chemical synthesis. Manufacturers can biosynthesize raspberry ketone by condensing p-hydroxybenzaldehyde with acetone. According to regulations in the European Union and the United States, raspberry ketone produced using this method, though, can only be labeled as a natural-identical flavoring. 

You can purchase raspberry ketone dietary supplements from many nutrition retailers in capsule or powder form. 

Raspberry ketone has many cosmetic, dietary, and medical uses as an: 

• Anti-inflammatory agent
• Dietary supplement
• Gastroprotection aid
• A “Generally Recognized as Safe” additive in beverages and food 
• Perfume ingredient
• Treatment for hair loss and male pattern baldness
• Weight loss aid

However, raspberry ketone’s effectiveness as a health supplement remains underexplored. 

Few studies have examined how raspberry ketone affects the human body, so it’s unclear if or how this supplement affects health. However, a handful of animal studies have explored raspberry ketone's potential benefits and risks. 

Here are a few possible health effects of this supplement: 

• Cardioprotection. A 2021 rat trial found that a 200 mg/kg dosage of raspberry ketone protected the test subjects from inflammation and oxidative stress caused by isoproterenol-induced cardiotoxicity. This study suggests that raspberry ketone may have a cardioprotective effect comparable to the prescription medication fenofibrate. 
• Liver protection. In the case of a 2012 study, raspberry ketone seemingly decreased lipid levels, protected liver cells, and reduced free fatty acid production in rats that had been fed a high-fat diet. 
• Gastroprotection. A 2019 study found that raspberry ketone can prevent the formation of gastric ulcers in rats. The researchers suggest that the supplement could be compared as a treatment to the gastroprotective prescription medication omeprazole. 

Despite these promising animal studies, conclusive evidence of raspberry ketone’s impact on the human body remains scarce. 

No human trials have studied if raspberry ketones can help people lose or maintain weight. However, several studies suggest that raspberry ketone could prevent obesity in other animals. 

For example, a 2005 mice study tested if raspberry ketone could activate lipid metabolism and reduce the risk of obesity. The researchers reported that mice that had been fed a high-fat diet with raspberry ketone didn’t gain weight. The supplement also prevented fatty liver while decreasing triacylglycerol content.  

In 2020, another study found that mice rapidly metabolize raspberry ketone and that the supplement can directly target lipid-rich tissues in obese mice. 

That being said, animal studies don’t necessarily translate directly to human models, so it’s unclear if these potential benefits would also apply to people who consume raspberry ketone.

How long does it take for raspberry ketone to cause weight loss? 

More research is needed to determine how long it takes for raspberry ketone to cause weight loss in humans or determine if raspberry ketone could ever have this effect on a human at all. 

Due to the lack of research on raspberry ketone, the potential risks of using this supplement remain uncertain. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind if you want to try raspberry ketone: 

• Diabetes. If you have diabetes, this supplement could affect your blood sugar levels in unexpected ways, making it a good idea to closely monitor your glucose levels if you take raspberry ketone. 
• Pregnancy. No research has studied the effect of raspberry ketone on pregnant/nursing women and babies. Consider consulting your doctor before taking this supplement if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.  
• Interactions with other supplements. Raspberry ketone could have a stimulant effect. If combined with other stimulating supplements like bitter orange or caffeine, raspberry ketone may cause side effects like high blood pressure and increased heart rate.   

In summary, raspberry ketone is a relatively unstudied dietary supplement with unknown health benefits and risks. Some people believe that raspberry ketone can aid weight loss, but more studies are needed to determine the accuracy of this claim. It’s a good idea to consult with your doctor before taking raspberry ketone to ensure that this supplement won’t negatively impact your health.