Raspberry Ketones
Also known as: RK, 4-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, rheosmin, frambinone
Effective Dosage
No established dose from human clinical data
What the Science Says
Raspberry ketone is the natural aromatic compound that gives red raspberries their distinctive smell. In animal studies, high doses have shown some effects on fat metabolism, blood lipids, and liver health markers — but these doses far exceed what humans typically consume. The one available human clinical trial found no meaningful effect on resting metabolic rate or fat burning compared to placebo.
What It Doesn't Do
Won't boost your metabolism. No human evidence it burns fat. Won't help you lose weight at doses found in supplements. Animal results don't translate to humans at realistic doses. Not a proven fat burner despite widespread marketing claims.
Evidence-Based Benefits
In rodent models, raspberry ketones have shown potential to reduce body weight, improve lipid profiles, and modulate adipocytokine expression in high-fat diet-induced obesity (PMID: 29787773). Animal studies also suggest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, including attenuation of drug-induced lung toxicity via NF-κB pathway inhibition (PMID: 33238601). A metabolite of raspberry ketones (rhododendrol) showed benefits on liver inflammation and gut microbiota composition in mice fed a high-fat diet (PMID: 36468583).
Weak EvidenceEffective at: No established dose from provided studies (human clinical data absent)
Source: auto-research
Absorption & Bioavailability
Good in mice — rapidly absorbed and metabolized, with fat tissue (especially white adipose tissue) as a primary target. Obese mice show different pharmacokinetics than lean mice. Human bioavailability data is not available from the provided studies.
Red Flags to Watch For
- A case report links raspberry ketone supplementation to coronary vasospasm — a potentially serious cardiac event
- All positive metabolic findings come from animal studies using very high doses (250–500 mg/kg), which don't translate directly to human supplement doses
- The only human clinical trial showed zero effect on metabolism or fat burning
- Over 1,000 supplement products contain raspberry ketones despite a near-total absence of human efficacy data
- May weakly inhibit drug-metabolizing enzymes (UGT2B7), raising potential herb-drug interaction concerns at high doses
Products Containing Raspberry Ketones
See how Raspberry Ketones is used in these analyzed products:
Research Sources
- PubMed
- NIH DSLD
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen. Last updated: 2026-04-06