Raspberry Ketones Reviews

Medically reviewed by Anthony Dugarte M.D.

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Thanks to Dr. Mehmet Oz, and other similar celebrity experts, raspberry ketone sales took off. Science has something to say about the phenomenon.

What are Raspberry Ketones?

Raspberry ketone is a chemical compound naturally contained in red raspberries (Rubus idaeus). Raspberry plants grow as brambles alongside other plants. These plants are native to Northern Asia and Europe and belong to the Rose family.

Raspberry ketone is a phenolic ketone chemical compound that gives the characteristic scent to raspberries. This chemical is also found in other kinds of berries like cranberries, blackberries, and in other fruits like peaches, apples, kiwifruit, and grapes.

For decades, raspberry ketones have been used for cosmetic application for healthier skin, and as an agent that promotes hair growth.

Additionally, raspberry ketone drops have been used as a fragrance and flavoring agent in many food items such as ice cream, processed food, and soft drinks.

Raspberry ketone supplements became known as a product that promotes weight loss only recently.

In February 2012, on the popular Dr. Oz television show, it was mentioned in a segment called “Raspberry Ketone: A Miracle Fat Burner in a Bottle.”

After that, raspberry ketone supplements were a common trend among the beauty and fitness-conscious population in the US and worldwide.

Popular Raspberry Ketones Articles

How Did Raspberry Ketone Start?

Many believe that red raspberries had their origins in Anatolia, an ancient geographical territory that makes up most of modern-day Turkey.

The recorded history of red raspberries dates back as far as 4 AD. Roman historical records suggest that raspberries were used by Romans for cosmetic purposes and they were spread throughout Europe by Romans.

Afterward, the English saw the potential in raspberries as a commercial product and were pioneers in growing raspberry plants for commercial purposes.

In the latter part of the 18th century, they exported raspberry plants to the United States. Currently, the US is the third-largest producer of red raspberries in the world.

As mentioned above, raspberry ketone was used as a cosmetic ingredient, a fragrance, and flavoring agent, and became popular as a weight-loss supplement in the recent past.

Raspberry Ketone Claims

Raspberry ketone supplements claim to be one of the safest methods for losing weight, without feeling fatigued.

The compound is extracted from natural sources and creates no side effects while using.

Furthermore, raspberry ketone supplements are claimed to regulate blood glucose and fat levels so that you can achieve weight loss, despite having a substantial calorie intake.

Raspberry ketone supplements are also said to prevent chronic conditions and boost your physical energy levels.

Amidst all these claims, raspberry ketone supplements have impressed some and disappointed others.

The fact remains that there are few human studies to prove its effectiveness as a weight-loss promoting agent.

Raspberry Ketone Ingredients

Raspberry ketone is the chemical ingredient that gives red raspberries their aroma, cosmetic benefits, flavor, and weight loss properties.

Also, it contains the following minerals and vitamins:

  • Calcium
  • Chromium
  • Iron
  • Magnesium
  • Vitamin B complex – Riboflavin, Beta Carotene, Thiamine
  • Vitamin C

Does Raspberry Ketone Work?

It is clear that raspberry ketones work as a cosmetic and flavoring agent, as it has been used for those purposes since ancient times.

But, does it produce the desired results as an agent that promotes weight loss?

Its popularity and the fact that many weight loss gurus have recommended it may seem enough for a fitness-conscious individual to use it.

However, for an individual who puts health first, based on scientific facts, it requires further research.

Raspberry ketone is an enzyme that elevates the levels of adiponectin secreted into the bloodstream.

Adiponectin hormone is secreted into the blood from the fat tissues found in muscles and the liver.

This hormone regulates the metabolic rate of the body.

When raspberry ketones are ingested, the Adiponectin levels rise and the metabolic rate is increased.

This breaks down the excess fat deposits in the liver and muscles resulting in a slimmer body.

This is the basic explanation of how raspberry ketones are supposed to work.

You will find positive and negative evidence, testimonials, and research findings as you read on.

Raspberry Ketones Mechanism Of Action

Scientists speculate that raspberry ketones should have a similar mechanism of action to synephrine (found in senna) and capsaicin (found in chili) because they have much the same molecular structure.

Since those two molecules boost metabolism, raspberry ketones were also thought to have the same effect.

To test this hypothesis, scientists took fat cells from lab rats, isolated them, and grew them in a test tube.

Afterward, they added raspberry ketones to the tube and observed that it increased fat breakdown by increasing the sensitivity of fat cells to the hormone epinephrine.

Epinephrine burns fat. Also, it increased the levels of the fat and sugar-regulating hormone adiponectin.

Research has indicated that individuals who have reduced adiponectin levels are more prone to obesity and related conditions like fatty liver, heart diseases, and diabetes, as per publications in the journals Planta Medica and JCI.

Details On Raspberry Ketones For Weight Loss

Raspberry ketone supplements have been promoted as effective weight loss products by many companies who are in the diet supplement industry.

When considering the chemical formulation and the effects of the chemical compound, in theory, raspberry ketone supplements seem to top the list of weight loss supplements.

However, there are some pitfalls that have caused these products to attract negative comments and feedback.

After analyzing reviews collected by a UK-based website regarding the raspberry ketone supplements, it is evident that these pills don’t deliver as much as they promise.

Out of the 46 reviews, only three individuals had given 5-star ratings, and 28 of them gave ratings of less than 3 stars.

This result may reflect the ineffectiveness of the raspberry ketone supplements and diet, but it doesn’t count as stand-alone proof, considering the sample is small and a few individuals had achieved the desired results.

Raspberry Ketones and Hair Loss

As mentioned above, raspberry ketones are known to increase hair growth.

A group of researchers set out to study this effect and found that it is effective in treating the condition known as baldness.

These scientists were also fascinated by the structural similarity of the raspberry ketones to capsaicin.

Earlier studies have shown that capsaicin is effective in promoting hair growth by increasing the expression of Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) in the skin.

A study was conducted using humans and mice as subjects. Application of a raspberry ketone cream on mice yielded desired results in 4 weeks’ time with increased hair growth.

However, in the human subjects, it produced positive results only in half of the participants after five months.

With these results, scientists concluded that raspberry ketones exert their effects by enhancing IGF-1 production in the skin, according to Growth Hormone & IGF Research.

Potential Raspberry Ketone Side Effects

As a naturally occurring chemical compound, there are minimal side effects associated with raspberry ketones.

It is categorized as “Possibly Safe” if administered orally and in the appropriate dose.

However, there are a few concerns regarding the side effects of raspberry ketones:

  • A possible increase in blood pressure
  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Upset stomach

However, there are millions of people using raspberry ketones in the recommended amounts without any side effects recorded to date.

Raspberry Ketone Dosage

Studies conducted using lab rats have not shown any harmful effects even at very high doses, but there have not been many human studies to provide a scientifically proven dosage.

Various supplements containing raspberry ketones recommend doses ranging from 100 mg to 400 mg, once or twice a day.

Are Raspberry Ketones For Weight Loss?

While almost all the supplements out there on the market claim that the product is natural and they have used natural raspberries in the manufacturing process, it seems a bit far from being true.

As it turns out, to get the amount sufficient for a single dose of raspberry ketones, 41 kgs of raspberries are needed. Imagine how expensive and time-consuming the process would be?

So, it appears that what we find in the raspberry ketone supplements on the market is a synthetically made product.

Are Raspberry Ketone Supplement Claims True?

It is true that there are many television advertisements and weight loss gurus claiming raspberry ketone supplements to be the best option to lose weight.

However, it is worth pondering whether all these claims are backed by scientific trials or research.

Raspberry ketone supplements have never been studied extensively using human subjects for their weight loss capabilities.

Some may argue that there have been human studies, but the only published study has tested raspberry ketones only in combination with other ingredients.

Raspberry ketone was given along with many other supplements including capsaicin, ginger, garlic, caffeine, and bitter orange.

As a result, the benefits couldn’t be attributed only to raspberry ketone supplements.

None of these studies have tested raspberry ketone supplements alone, and also the results of these studies are inconclusive.

There are no sufficient studies that have used human subjects to test the effectiveness of raspberry ketone supplements as a weight-loss promoting agent, and whatever research has been done has not yielded sufficient results to form a conclusion.

However, there are two studies that have used rats as subjects that have proven the effectiveness of raspberry ketone supplements in promoting weight loss.

These studies have demonstrated weight loss in rats, and scientists have found evidence of increased adiponectin levels in these rats.

The research aspect of raspberry ketone supplements as a weight loss promoter is in its primary stages and needs validation with human subjects, according to a study published in Life Sciences.

Raspberry Ketone Alternatives

What are effective natural alternatives for raspberry ketone supplements?

There are many natural alternatives for weight loss, including:

Capsaicin

Capsaicin may increase your metabolism and cause your fat to break down. The rise in temperature while eating chili peppers will also help.

Caffeine

Another great option is to try out drinks that contain caffeine. Caffeine has a potent effect in boosting your metabolic rate and promoting weight loss.

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