Health Experts Explain the Raspberry Ketone Craze

What’s all this talk about raspberry ketones? Well, Dr. Oz has inherited the “Oprah effect,” and if he mentions it everyone wants it; or at least wants to know what it is.

Since his episode aired earlier this week announcing the new “miracle” weight loss supplement raspberry ketone, the Internet has been ablaze with searches. Stores are already back-ordered, and pharmacists are having to become experts on the subject almost over night.

“The amount of questions that came pouring in to my pharmacy about raspberry ketones just hours after Dr. Oz’s episode about them makes me think I need to start DVRing the show,” said Dr. Sarah G. Khan, our resident pharmacist at DietsInReview.com. She explains that the raspberry ketones have a weight loss effect because they increase “the metabolism by increasing the release of a hormone called norepinephrine.” Dr. Khan further explains that the other mechanism at play is “a protein that is found on fat cells called adiponectin… [which] decreases glucose levels and has been found to be very successful in lab tests with mice regarding weight loss.”

While she thinks long-term use of such a metabolism-boosting supplement could have effects on your thyroid, she also advises against their use by diabetics.

She’s not the only one speaking out against the new it-pill of the moment. Our resident dietitian Mary Hartley suggests that these raspberry ketones are nothing more than TV hype. She describes them as “compounds that give red raspberries their aroma.”

Where has Dr. Oz found support for his shining recommendation? Mice.

“That fat-blasting claim rests on two small mice studies that show when mice are fed a high-fat diet supplemented with raspberry ketones they gain less body fat than expected,” explained Hartley. “But be clear: raspberry ketones have not been studied in humans and they have not been proven to work.”

The dose, as directed by Dr. Oz’s assistant on the show, Lisa Lynn, is 100mg for breakfast and then 200mg at lunch. Hartley notes this dosing regimen will cost you “$20 to $60 a month, for a still unproven product.” She and Dr. Oz agree on one thing, you couldn’t possibly eat enough fresh raspberries to match the concentration in a dose of raspberry ketones, which would require about 90 pounds of berries.

The bottom line, as Dr. Khan asserts, “With any supplement I say go in it with a grain of salt.” As it’s untested in humans, and supplements like this don’t require any FDA oversight or approval, any supplement you buy leaves you at the mercy of the manufacturer. Your best bet, avoid these unproven supplements and stick to a healthy diet and consistent exercise regimen. However, if you do find yourself looking to buy, be sure that the raspberry ingredients are listed as main ingredients and not buried at the bottom of the list or excluded entirely.

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Read more: Health, Diet & Nutrition, diet pills, dr. oz, raspberry, weight loss

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

James C.

11:22AM PDT on May 3, 2012

This is exactly how and why raspberry ketones can help you lose weight along with suppressing appetite. And all this time we thought raspberries where just a good source of anioxidants.http://www.e-natureguide.com/index.php/Weight-Loss-Supplements/Raspberry-Ketones-for-Weight-Loss.html

send a green star

M K.

3:30PM PDT on Mar 28, 2012

I just saw the rerun of the Dr. Oz show about the raspberry ketone... I need to talk to my hormone Dr. first and see what she says...

Jessicca R.

3:06AM PST on Mar 7, 2012

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Karen G.

6:11AM PST on Feb 22, 2012

I love raspberries. I am just going to eat lots of them and let my body sort out the ketones.

Jim R.

8:27PM PST on Feb 20, 2012

Can't I just eat raspberries????

Sarah M.

8:25PM PST on Feb 20, 2012

crazy fads

conen j.

4:49PM PST on Feb 19, 2012

Thank you for the article

Danuta W.

1:06AM PST on Feb 16, 2012

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Tim C.

11:24PM PST on Feb 15, 2012

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