Update 9/14/19. What are raspberry ketones and do they work? Well, if you watch the Dr. Oz Show, you may have heard Dr. Oz call raspberry ketones “The #1 miracle in a bottle to burn your fat.” Since he made that bold statement, I've heard that raspberry ketone supplements are sold so fast that vitamin stores can't keep them on the shelves! So, what I'd like to do is review the raspberry ketone research — minus the hype that you have already heard about. Only in this way can you make an informed decision about whether raspberry ketone is right for you. Other names for this supplement include red raspberry ketone, and European red raspberry, as well as the more scientific names Rubus idaeus, Rubus strigosus and Framboise Rouge. I'm telling you these other names because if you just searched for “raspberry ketone” you may not find all of the information available. For this review, I'm pretty much going to stick to just calling it raspberry ketone.
What Are Raspberry Ketones?
Red raspberry ketones are one of many compounds in raspberries and are what gives raspberries their unique smell. Like all things that come from fruits and vegetables, raspberries contain a lot of substances that are healthy —including anthocyanins, vitamin C and beta carotene. As such, raspberry ketones are also antioxidants.
Raspberry ketones also “look” similar to synephrine and capsicum — two ingredients that have been used in many weight loss supplements over the years such as the fat burner promoted by Jillian Michaels. This similarity is likely why scientists considered raspberry ketones as a weight loss agent itself.
Weight loss supplements that contain raspberry ketones include QuickTrim — the Kim Kardashian supplement —and Apidexin. See my reviews on those products for more information.
Ketone trivia. The name ketone is a chemistry term. That's not important. I just thought people might like to know where the word came from. On some websites they spell ketone as “keytone” but this is an incorrect spelling of the word. Again, not important.
Tip. Keep in mind as you read this review that raspberry ketones are not the same thing as ketones that are made when people go on low-carb diets or in people who are diabetic. Those ketones are not the same as raspberry ketones.
Raspberry Ketones And Weight Loss
When Dr. Oz asked his fitness expert, Lisa Lynn (more about her below) on TV, how she found out about the weight loss properties of raspberry ketones, Lisa said “Research research research.” So, I looked up the research on raspberry ketones and this is what I discovered.
In a study published in 2005, titled the Anti Obesity Action of Raspberry Ketone, the supplement was given to mice that were fed a high-fat diet for several weeks. Mice were split into different groups, each getting the same calories but getting different amounts of raspberry ketones (either 0.5%, 1% or 2%).
The diets were about 40% fat in each group. Researchers noted that raspberry ketones — that made up between 1% and 2% of total calories — caused a reduction in body weight and fat buildup in the livers of mice after 10 weeks of use, compared to mice that only were fed a high-fat diet.
Norepinephrine (also called noradrenaline ) is a chemical made in the adrenal glands that act as a neurotransmitter and does many things, one of which includes helping to burn fat. This study also incubated isolated mouse fat cells in norepinephrine along with raspberry ketones to see what would happen.
The researchers observed that the combination of raspberry ketones and norepinephrine caused more fat to leave the fat cells than norepinephrine alone.
This is why Dr. Oz said raspberry ketones cause fat cells to shrink.
I'm telling you this because various websites claim that raspberry ketones increase levels of norepinephrine. However, this study did not show that.
Rather, the researches only showed that raspberry ketones appeared to improve the fat-burning ability of norepinephrine.
This is actually a good thing because too much norepinephrine can be bad. For example norepinephrine can raise blood pressure.
Oddly, this study noted that while a 1% intake of raspberry ketones tended to raise triglyceride levels in the mice, eating it at a concentration of 5% of total calories tended to reduce triglycerides.
These researchers also quoted previous studies noting that raspberry ketones raised metabolic rates—in rats. That's interesting, but where's the proof that raspberry ketones raise metabolism in people?
Bottom Line: This was just a mouse study —and a small study at that! Each group only had 6 mice.
Also, if we really want to be technical, all the mice were male. What about female mice? Would raspberry ketones have the same weight loss effects in female mice —or more importantly —women?
In another study, published in 2010, researchers found that red raspberry ketones inhibited weight gain and improved fat burning in mice that were fed a high-fat diet. Researchers also noted that raspberry ketones increase levels of adiponectin, a hormone made in fat cells.
The Wikipedia page on adiponectin goes into more detail, discussing how the hormone does a variety of things including improving the sensitivity of insulin— (good for diabetics).
Dr. Oz said that Adiponectin was the “hormone that tricks the body into thinking it's thin.”When we put on weight, we reduce the ability of the adiponectin hormone to work.”
Sounds good, but red raspberries have only been shown to reduce adiponectin in mice. What about people? Have raspberry ketone supplements been proven to help people lose weight by raising adiponectin levels? Nope. Not yet.
Tip. There is more evidence that exercise raises adiponectin levels than for raspberry ketones —and exercise has been shown to work in people!
One study from 2013 appeared to show that a supplement – containing raspberry ketones – helped weight loss. But there were several ingredients in that supplement. Also, of the 70 people who originally signed up, only 45 people made it to the end. That's a big drop amount.
There is a study published in 2017 that noted, that raspberry ketones might reduce food intake in mice who were fed a high-fat diet. Again, this is a mouse study.
So, what's the evidence for raspberry ketones and weight loss? It looks like some mouse studies. What about people?
Are Raspberry Ketones Better With Capsaicin?
Capsaicin is found in chili peppers and synephrine is an extract from oranges. Both have been used in weight loss products in the past. Because raspberry ketones “look” like both capsicum and synephrine, I predict that you will see weight loss products that have all three of these ingredients.
But, would they all work better together? I don't know because there is no proof either way. Because of that, I recommend you save your money on weight loss pills that combine (“stack”) capsaicin, synephrine, and raspberry ketones.
Synephrine, in particular, is not without problems. It can raise heart rate and blood pressure which can make it dangerous for a lot of people.
Who Is Lisa Lynn?
Dr. Oz called Lisa Lynn a “fitness expert” on his TV show when he did a segment on this supplement— but who is she? I checked into her background and found her website (LynFit.com) that notes that Lisa Lynn was the personal trainer of Martha Stewart.
Her website does indicate that Lisa holds multiple personal training certifications.
All this is fine but on her website, we see Lisa Lynn also has her own line of supplements (called “Lyn Fit”) She even has a 
raspberry ketone supplement on her website.
In a previous segment of the Dr. Oz show, Lisa Lynn also extolled the virtues of the metabolism booster/weight loss supplement, Coleus Forskohlii. Lisa has this supplement on her website also.
See the review on Coleus Forskohlii for more information.
Look, I'm sure she's a nice person and a great personal trainer —and I am all for capitalism – but where is all the raspberry ketone research? As far as I see, it's just some mouse studies.
How Much Raspberry Ketones Do You Need?
If raspberry ketones help people lose weight, how much works? Nobody knows because there are no human studies of raspberry ketones and weight loss. If we believe the mouse studies (which I don't), it appears that a concentration of 1% of total calorie intake might help weight loss. If that is correct, then the number of raspberry ketones needed would be different for different calorie intakes.
For example, a person who consumes 1800 calories per day would need less than a person who eats 2000 calories per day.
When asked “how much works” on the Dr. Oz Show, Lisa Lynn said to take 100 mg at breakfast— and if that didn't help, to go to 200 mg. Where did she get these numbers from? She doesn't tell us.
I guessing that this might be the human dose, extrapolated from what researchers gave the lab mice? But, I see no good proof that 100-200 mg of raspberry ketones per day helps people lose weight. It might—but I just don't know.
In this toxicology report on raspberry ketones, the authors mention a dosage of 100-1400 mg per day is often mentioned on the internet. That is a pretty big range, which again, says to me, nobody has any idea.
Raspberry Ketones And Appetite
Various websites make the claim that supplements can reduce appetite. But I see no proof of this. Even the mouse studies, do not state that raspberry ketone supplements suppress appetite.
Anti-Aging Effects Of Raspberry Ketones
Can raspberry ketone supplements slow down the aging process? Do they reduce wrinkles? Well, red raspberry ketones do have some antioxidant effects but it's a long shot to go from that to say that they are “anti-aging.”
Raspberry ketones may be found in some cosmetics because they seem to have a skin whitening effect —at least in skins of mice. That's fine, but I recommend you save your money on raspberry ketone anti-aging supplements. They are not an “anti-aging superfood.”
For those who really want a “superfood,” eat raspberries! Here's why: antioxidants work best in small amounts and when they are eaten in combination with the other ingredients in food. Because of this fact, raspberries are better than raspberry ketone supplements when it comes to being healthy.
Raspberry Ketone Side Effects
In healthy people, raspberry ketones are probably safe. That said, those who are not healthy or take medications should speak to their doctor/pharmacist first. Here are a few things to consider when taking this supplement. This list is not complete.
- Start with less than recommended for the first week
- Pregnant or nursing women should also speak to their doctor
- Stop taking the product at least 2 weeks before having surgery
There are only trace amounts of raspberry ketones in raspberries so they are no the same thing as supplements. This toxicology report states that there is only 4.3 mg per 2.2 pounds of raspberries. Just because raspberries are safe does not mean concentrated supplements of raspberry ketones are also safe.
One of the mouse studies summarized above noted that raspberry ketones raised triglyceride levels. Does this mean they also raise triglycerides and cholesterol levels in people?
Since raspberry ketones appear to have some chemical similarity to synephrine, be careful if you have high blood pressure or heart conditions. Synephrine might raise blood pressure and heart rate.
A report from Denmark publishedhas raised some concerns that the supplement may have toxic potential but there is little human evidence for this.
Some have speculated that these supplements may be inappropriate for those with cancers that are sensitive to estrogen levels. This is based on a concern that raspberry ketones may have estrogen-like properties. Cancers that might be affected by this include breast cancer, fibroids of the uterus, endometrium cancer, and uterine cancer.
In the book Herbs of Choice raspberry leaf is said to help with pregnancy issues such as morning sickness and labor pains. The book also notes (p. 140) that raspberry appears to promote contraction of the uterus. That would not be good for pregnant women. Would the same be true for raspberry ketone supplements? I don't know.
Do these supplements raise blood pressure? I do not know, but if the leaf of raspberries cause the muscles of the uterus to contract, what effect would they have on the muscles of the blood vessels? Would they also contract (and raise blood pressure) or would they relax (and decrease blood pressure)? I don't know.
Remember, some raspberry ketone supplements may contain more than just raspberry ketones. Always check the labels to see what other ingredients a supplement may contain.
See What Weight Loss Supplements Work for a list of things I feel have evidence
Do Raspberry Ketones Work?
The research on raspberry ketones for weight loss is in its infancy. As such, I just don't know if this supplement helps people lose weight or not. The majority of research is a lab rat and lab mice research. Raspberry ketones may benefit in mice but what about humans? I'd like to see a real-life study of of 100 people followed for at least 6 months under real-life (not laboratory) conditions to judge its weight loss power.
If you are still thinking about trying raspberry ketones to help you lose weight, I suggest you go to your doctor and get your blood work done first —cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, liver enzymes, the works—and then get it done again in a couple of months to see if anything has changed.
There are a LOT of websites that sell raspberry ketones. If you read the comments here, you'll see how some people talk about how their credit card was charged more than once after they purchased a product. Know who you deal with. Make sure the raspberry ketone websites you deal with have a contact phone number with customer support people who can help you have questions.
If they are going to work, keep in mind that it might take 6 months before raspberry ketones help you lose weight. Oh, and if you watched the Dr. Oz show, you also heard that you still have to exercise and watch what you eat too. So, you have to eat right and exercise as well as take raspberry ketones. That sounds less like “a miracle in a bottle to burn fat” and more like common sense.
You are a wonderful person trying to help people save money. Thank you for your research .My husband is a doctor, he told me not many doctors dislike him, and he embarrassed all doctors.
People like to follow the crowd then follow the fact.
I tried a lot of diet pills; waste a lot of money behind my husband. Only way that works for me to lose weight is diet and excise. No any miracle pills for losing weight.
Do not waste your money with Dr. Oz. He makes money from your attention, you can pay attention with Dr.Oz just don’t pay you money for Dr.Oz.
Thanks Rebecca, thats very kind of you to say 🙂
A friend has asked me about this as a weight loss supplement and quite honestly, I hadn’t heard of it, so naturally, I had to take to the net to find out more details. Of course, first thing I see is that its touted by Dr. Oz and called a “miracle”, blah blah blah. Being in fitness & nutrition for that past 4 years myself, shedding over 25lbs with, shocking, diet and exercise, I couldn’t imagine there truly was something out there that people could take, not alter their diet, no exercise and STILL lose weight. What the..???
Like Jooles said above, diet is 80% of weight loss, the other 20% comes from moving your body and being active. We are so quick to jump on the next big thing that will help us drop 20lbs overnight, instead of actually make changes in our lifestyles, to make changes in our health. I had to change my relationship with FOOD, become more active and switch up my workout regime (I did P90X), and then I started seeing results. No suppressants were apart of the process.
If this worked for some, I’m thrilled for them, although feel sorry for them in a few years when they haven’t changed their relationship with food and still eat poorly and have high blood pressure, weakened bones, etc.
Thank you for the article.
I’ve tried apple cider vinegar.. ….. doesn’t work, unfortunately.
I think calling it a miricle of any kind, is vey irresponsible of Dr. OZ.
I think it’s harsh to say that Dr. Oz is a scam, just because something doesn’t work for everybody. Honest reviews are good because it helps the consumer make good choices.
RK work really well for me, and not for others. Same goes for any diet or supplement. There is no end all be all drug, supplement or Dr. person that has all the answers, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s up to the consumer to use their common sense.
If you’re going to go out an purchase hundreds of dollars on supplements just because a Dr. Oz says so, then you’re an…well, I won’t say it, but I truly believe he does more good for his viewers than bad, so no, I wouldn’t attack him as a scam. good luck to y’all and never forget, there is no better weight loss solution than visualization, determination and sticking to a healthy well balanced diet with some exercise on the side. 80% food, 20% exercise. Eat well!
I am 43 and 5’2 and weigh 120 Ibs. I work out 6 days a week, watch my diet and maintain a very healthy lifestyle. I lost 85 pounds 22 years ago and have maintained my weight. I just started taking raspberry ketones to try and help me lost the last 5 pounds which I just cannot lose.
I do 2-3 sessions of cardio everyday plus i weight train and my diet is very clean so just not sure why I am having problems losing these last 5 pounds. My average burnout on cardio workouts everyday is 1700 calories and sometimes more.
My intake is about 1500 so i am a loss as to why i cant lose the weight. Well, I just started on the raspberry ketones for about 4 days now. Will update if i notice any results.
Dr. Oz is a scam. It’s more than curious that most health food stores put “seen on Dr. Oz” on the supplements they are selling. Does Dr. Oz get kickbacks on these supplements? That is the question that has NOT been answered.
Personally, I have tried the supplement and NOT found it to be a miracle diet pill, as is touted by Dr. Oz. In fact, the supplement has NOT been helpful. I still have food cravings. I still have a problem losing weight on the supplement Dr. Oz says is so effective.
Me think, therefore, that Dr. Oz is yet another new age guru who offers the public yet another dubious diet craze, that has little research to support it’s effectiveness on human subjects. I wonder how much money Dr. Oz has received for recommending this raspberry African mango supplement?
Dr. Oz seems like so many others who is gaining a lot of money in recommending a supplement that has little or no research on weight loss in humans. Shame on Dr. Oz and Oprah for preying on the public’s desire to look good.
Thank you for helping me save money.
I have been taking Raspberry Ketones that I bought at GNC for 6 weeks now. I have not changed by diet at all. I have since gained 5 pounds! What a waste of money. Shame on you Dr. Oz and shame on me for believing in your “hype”.
Hello, I am new to this site. I was trying to Google reviews of the Rasberry Ketones, since a girlfriend of a friend passed them along because she began getting headaches while consuming this product.
I have the bottle in my hand and I am hesitant of taking them. My friend says she was getting headaches due to exceeding her intake, but who knows. About 2 weeks ago, I started drinking Apple Cider Vinegar before meals. I have not changed my diet, nor have I started exercising.
I did minor research on the consumption of ACV, I though maybe you all here would be more helpful since it seems like some of you know quite a bit about weight loss. So far I have noticed that I dont feel so blooded and I have slightly more energy.
I will admit that since I started drinking the concoction of ACV with water, I noticed that it has curbed my appetite. I would really appreciate your input. Thank you
Victoria, if its working im happy. Ive heard about apple cider vinegar but have not yet looked at it.i do ant to though. anybody else have ideas on this?
I have been using plain Raspberry Ketones, 200mg 3 times a day and a green tea supplement along with it. It’s been only a week or so and I am noticing a significant difference, especially around the middle. It is as if my fat is shrinking slowly.
Being over 40 now, it’s been challenging to lose any weight unless I do something extreme I.e., diet and hard exercise. At the moment, I have not changed anything about my diet except adding the RK and Green Tea supplements, although my appetite is changing so I am not finishing everything on my plate like I used to.
Overall, I have had no side effects and seem to be noticing a difference for sure…finally. I have a feeling if I start exercising again, it’s going to go faster, but I’m quite happy to lose weight slowly – that way, it stays off.
There are many products out there with RK, but I stuck to the natural RK with nothing added. The Green Tea apparently helps it along and it’s good for me anyway so I will continue for the next month and see what happens.
ps. in the above i’m asking about weight loss supplements.
Joe,
New to this site, but already enjoying it.
I saw in the above comment that you stated:
“My book about supplements – Nutritional Supplements What works and Why – reviews 119 different supplements A-Z and contains over 900 clinical references with many facts referenced right in the text so people can check out the facts for themselves.”
So, acknowledging that eating right and exercising are the real keys, I just have to ask point blank…
If you could only recommend a few supplements that you feel are most effective or give the best roi, what would those be? 🙂 i know there are no “magic bullets”, but i’m hoping that there are a few products that really do help some? any suggestions?
Thanks!!!
Josh
Hi Josh,
the “best supplements (giving the most return on investment) would vary depending on the health of the person and the medications they take so its hard to make a blanket statement. that said there is good evidence -for healthy people to look at vitamin D and fish oil.
since you mentioned weigh loss products, i wish I had good news. all the products Ive looked at seem to be either
1. stimulants
2. laxatives
3. fiber
Ive written about this on my personal website http://www.joe-cannon.com/what-weight-loss-supplements-work/
most products have zero peer reviewed proof and the proof for their ingredients is often over hyped.
My search continues but as of now, no weight supplement stands out to me more than others. they all just appear to be mostly the same categories of ingredients in differently labeled bottles.
I started taking Rasberry Ketones about 5 days ago and lost 7 pounds was very shocked then the next day gained 2 back but still I took 2 tab. at once 100mg. that seems to work best for me.
If I take them not not together they don’t work as well I will continue this to see what happens. I got mine from Swanson so it was much cheaper and better quality. I will continue and let you know.
Tracey it is important to purchase the real product.
If you have counterfeit Raspberry Ketones it could be anything.
The one I purchased I could feel working from the first tablet – my body temp is raised like Ive had a shot of adrenaline released into my body but with out the shakes and anxiety adrenaline can give you. I took one this morning on an empty stomach and I can feel the same wakey uppy feeling.
I have been doing the Raspberry Ketone and i have gained 11 pounds in 3 week so i will not be taking them anymore..
I purchased Raspberry Ketones and took 1 x 200mg as soon as they arrived. I weighed 13.5 stones – been stuck at this weight for 9 months.
The effect was felt within an hour my body temp was up but no real increase of heart rate – though my heart beat felt stronger. P.M 30 mins cross trainer.
On the second day I took one in the morning and one at dinner time. A good increase of body temp and some stomach griping but nothing to worry about.
Third day 1 x am tab went for a long bike ride 1hr 30 mins. Pm 1x tab again nice rise in body temp.
Got weighed this evening of the third day and weighed in at 13stone 2lbs. I know I will have had water loss from Cycling but this is a good weight loss so far.
I have had no problems sleeping though my Body temp does feel raised – No thirst – No anxiety.
I do feel more energy.
I will let you know how it goes over the next month.
Regards – Bobby.
I just started taking these today (I have Raspberry Ketone Fusion, which also contains green tea extract)….I took it twice a day today, I think they were 125 mg tablets or something like that.
I have a very big appetite usually, and in the past three or so years I’ve gained about 65-70 pounds. I went from weighing 150 (which was normal for me) to 210. I broke my neck in 2010 and now have a very bad neck which prohibits a lot of exercise and has caused me to gain quite a bit.
For reference:
I’m 22 years old, female, 5’4, 210.
I take medication for anxiety (80 MG of prozac 1/day), birth control, frequently take oxycodone for pain, and I also have hypoglycemia. I have some colitis and sometimes IBS problems. I also have asthma, and problems with sleeping excessively. I do not exercise much (although I’m going to start), but I do drink a LOT of water and never drink soda.
I know that after only a day of taking them I’m likely just experiencing a placebo affect of trying something new, but I definitely noticed a decrease in my appetite. I also taste raspberries when I burp…which is probably something no one needs to know, but I think it’s awesome…
I figured I’d keep it up for awhile and see if it seems to work for my appetite and metabolism, as well as making sure it doesn’t seem to interfere with any of my medications or ailments. I didn’t notice any increases in energy so far (which I need lol, I actually took a long nap after I took them), nor did I notice any heartburn or headaches so far.
Thanks so much for your article, I was trying to find an unbiased review that WASN’T trying to sell anything but it was hard. I found enough personal reviews to make me want to try it, but with definite caution. I’ll keep updated with how my experience is going!
Shans, thanks and yes please do keep me updated. good luck 🙂
Thanks for this incredibly informative article. I was thinking of trying it but wanted some facts first. So far I’m not seeing anything that’s making me want to spend the money. Diet and Exercise for me, thanks!
Hi, I have stumbled across this site and yes, I too wish I would have before purchasing Raspberry Ketones. I came across it watching the Dr. Oz show (while exercising thinking, ya this is neat to watch while work out) and went head over heels trying to find the miracle pill (did a bit of research-found no fault)
so now I did take one brand and no noticeable weight loss (and no regular exercising-my bad) but did how ever get my “monthly cleanse” one week earlier the first month, normal the second month to which makes me concerned on the effect it has on me with hormones.
I have recently found the actual product that Dr. Oz promoted on the show and just started them this week. But as I come across this site, I’m not so sure I should continue, take the purchase as a loss and get back into my exercises while watching something else!
Great site!