Is It Safe to Drink Ketones?

Taking ketone supplements may cause the following side effects:

• Stomach distress: Ketone supplements may cause stomach upset and increased bowel movements.
• Electrolyte imbalance: Electrolytes are vital for your muscles to function properly and for your heart to maintain a normal rhythm. Ketone supplements can cause electrolyte imbalance, which is particularly harmful if you have a kidney disease that already affects your body’s ability to maintain balanced electrolyte levels.
• Hypoglycemia: Ketogenic diets can cause blood sugar levels to go too low. This is dangerous if you have diabetes and take medications that lower blood glucose levels. Extra ketones in the form of ketone supplements may lead to hypoglycemia (low blood glucose), which can make you feel fatigued and lethargic.
• Hypertension: Ketone salts usually contain sodium, which could be dangerous if you have high blood pressure (hypertension).
• Dehydration: Taking ketone supplements can heighten the effects of a keto diet and make you more likely to become dehydrated.

Ketone supplements on the market are usually available in the form of either ketone salts or ketone esters.

Ketone salts

Ketone salts are made by adding artificial ketones to electrolytes, such as sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These are usually found in a drink form or in powders or pills.

Ketone esters

Ketone esters are the purest form of ketones and therefore the most potent. They work faster, as early as 10-15 minutes, as compared to the ketone salts, which take about an hour. Ketone esters also help maintain ketosis for a longer period of time. However, this form of supplement is both expensive and unpleasant-tasting.

MCT oil

Another item on the market is medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, which is partially synthetic fat. This oil is converted into ketones in the liver. 

Most people on a ketogenic diet aim to lose weight quickly by reaching ketosis. However, this low-carb, high-fat diet is difficult to follow consistently, and consuming over 50 grams of carbs a day can reverse ketosis and throw a wrench in your diet plan. 

So people who find it difficult to follow a keto diet on a consistent basis may want to use ketone supplements to boost the overall process. People trying to improve their athletic performance may also use exogenous ketones to reduce lactic acid production after intense workouts and thus minimize muscle soreness.

However, the danger lies in trying to use ketone supplements as a quick and easy fix, depending on them entirely for achieving and maintaining ketosis. While ketone supplements can help with weight loss, they need to be accompanied by following a keto diet. So the bottom line is that instead of spending your money on ketone supplements, it’s better, and likely safer, to put that towards buying healthy, whole foods to include in your diet.