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Raspberry ketones are the aroma compound that gives red raspberries their smell, and they are sold in supplements as a weight-loss ingredient. The evidence does not support that use. The fat-loss results come from mice and cells in a dish given very large amounts, and no published human trial has tested raspberry ketone on its own. The only randomized trials of products containing it also included caffeine, bitter orange and capsaicin, so their results cannot be credited to raspberry ketone. The FDA allows the compound as a synthetic food flavoring, but supplements contain far more than food provides, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) says the safety of those amounts has never been evaluated in people. Here is what is known, what is not, and how to read labels that list it.
Peptide Labs sells supplements that list raspberry ketone, but this article does not recommend any of them. It is general information, not medical advice.
Key Takeaways
- Raspberry ketone is a flavor compound found in tiny amounts in raspberries, kiwifruit, peaches and apples.
- Weight and fat results come from mouse and cell studies; no human trial has tested it alone.
- The two human trials used multi-ingredient products with caffeine and other stimulants.
- The NIH says the safety of supplement amounts has never been evaluated in humans.
- Despite the name, it is not a ketone body and does not supply the ketones made on a keto diet.
What are raspberry ketones?
Raspberry ketone, also called rheosmin or frambinone, is a small phenolic compound with the chemical name 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)butan-2-one. It is the main aroma compound of red raspberries and also occurs in kiwifruit, peaches and apples, according to a 2021 review. The amounts in fruit are tiny: a kilogram of raspberries yields only a few milligrams, which is why food and supplement makers rely on synthetic or lab-made versions.
The FDA lists the compound, under the name 4-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, among synthetic flavoring substances that may be used in food in the minimum quantity needed to produce their flavor. That listing covers its use as a flavoring. It is not an approval of raspberry ketone for weight loss, and the FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are sold. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) notes that typical diets supply only a few milligrams a day, far below the amounts packed into supplement capsules.
Not the same as the ketones in a keto diet
The word ketone describes a chemical group that raspberry ketone shares with thousands of other compounds. It is not a ketone body. The ketones your liver makes during fasting or a very low-carb diet are mainly beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), which is sold separately as BHB salts and esters. Our guide to exogenous ketones covers those products. Taking raspberry ketone does not supply BHB, even though some labels put the two side by side.
Do raspberry ketones work for weight loss?
Interest began with a 2005 Japanese study. The researchers noted that raspberry ketone’s structure resembles capsaicin, from chili peppers, and synephrine, from bitter orange, so they tested it in mice. Here is how the research has unfolded since:
| Study | What was tested | Result | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 mouse study, Japan | High-fat diet with raspberry ketone mixed into the food for up to 10 weeks | Less weight gain and less liver and belly fat | Mice; very large amounts relative to body size |
| 2010 cell study, Korea | Fat cells grown in a dish | More fat breakdown inside the cells | Not a living animal or person |
| 2017 mouse study, Ohio State | Raspberry ketone diet compared with mice fed the same amount of food | Mice ate less and weighed less, but no extra fat loss beyond eating less | Mice |
| 2020 mouse study, Rutgers | Single large amounts given by mouth | Less eating, but amounts that reliably cut eating caused organ changes; the highest killed 6 of 14 male mice | Mice |
| 2013 human trial | 70 adults, 8 weeks, diet and exercise, multi-ingredient product | Completers lost 2.0% of body weight versus 0.5% on placebo | 25 dropped out; caffeine and other ingredients; company-sponsored |
| 2018 human trial | 36 adults, 8 weeks, diet and exercise, multi-ingredient product | Both groups lost weight and fat; some hormone differences | Small; many ingredients |
The animal and cell studies
In the 2005 study, mice on a high-fat diet gained less weight when raspberry ketone made up a measurable share of their food. Later work suggests much of that came from eating less. An Ohio State team compared mice given raspberry ketone with mice simply fed the same smaller amount of food, and found raspberry ketone had limited benefit for fat loss beyond reducing intake. A 2020 Rutgers study found that the amounts needed to reliably suppress eating in mice were linked to changes in the spleen, thymus and blood counts, and a single high amount killed 6 of 14 male mice within two days. None of this tells us what ordinary capsules do in people.
The human trials
The ODS identifies only one randomized controlled trial of a supplement containing raspberry ketone. In that 2013 study, 70 adults with obesity took Prograde Metabolism or a placebo for eight weeks while cutting calories and exercising. The product also contained caffeine, bitter orange, capsaicin, ginger and garlic. People who finished on the supplement lost 2.0% of their body weight versus 0.5% on placebo, but 25 of the 70 dropped out and results were reported only for completers. The study was sponsored by a supplement company. A 2018 trial of a similar formula in 36 adults found that both groups lost weight and fat. Because each product held several active ingredients, neither trial can show what raspberry ketone does alone. As of September 2026, our PubMed search found no published human trial of raspberry ketone by itself for weight.
How a TV segment became a Senate hearing
Raspberry ketone became famous after national television promotion, which the ODS mentions directly. At a June 17, 2014 Senate consumer protection hearing, Senator Claire McCaskill read back Dr. Mehmet Oz’s on-air description of raspberry ketone as the “number one miracle in a bottle” for fat and told him the scientific community was almost monolithic against him on the products he had called miracles. That episode turned the raspberry ketones weight loss claim into a national story, yet the human evidence has barely changed since. Our review of whether fat burners work covers the stimulant blends raspberry ketone usually appears in.
Raspberry ketone benefits: what has actually been shown
In people, no benefit of raspberry ketone alone has been demonstrated. Rodent and cell studies have explored effects on fat metabolism and other organs, but a 2021 review noted that the compound is marketed at very high amounts despite a lack of reliable human research. If your goal is eating less, our guide to appetite suppressants compares ingredients that have been tested in human trials, with their limits.
Safety: what is known and what is not
The honest answer is that safety at supplement amounts is largely unknown. These are the facts we could verify:
- No human safety studies: the ODS says the safety of supplement amounts has never been evaluated in humans. The 2013 trial reported no serious side effects over eight weeks, but it tested a blend.
- Thin toxicology: a 2015 analysis by Denmark’s National Food Institute found that toxicity data were limited to short-term rat studies, that even the lowest marketed daily amount far exceeded a standard screening threshold for safety, and that computer models flagged possible heart and reproductive effects that need testing. The authors noted that the UK regarded the pure compound as a novel food requiring authorization.
- Label accuracy: a 2025 Spanish laboratory study found that 60% of supplements declaring a raspberry ketone content did not match their labels, most containing less, and some products sold as natural contained added synthetic raspberry ketone.
- Stimulant partners: many products combine raspberry ketone with caffeine, guarana, bitter orange or other stimulants, which carry their own heart rate and blood pressure cautions.
Ask a clinician first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a heart condition or high blood pressure, or take prescription medicines, since no studies have looked at these groups. Stop any product and get care for chest pain, a racing heartbeat, fainting, yellow skin or dark urine.
Reading labels that list raspberry ketone
On most labels raspberry ketone is one ingredient among many, and its amount is often hidden inside a proprietary blend. Three products we carry show the pattern:
| Product | How raspberry ketone appears | Other notable ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Lunakai PRO GLP-1 Support | Listed on its own line, labeled 99% raspberry ketone | Green tea extract, garcinia, berberine, red orange extract, phenylcapsaicin, probiotics |
| Etta Vita GLP-1 Burn+ | Inside a blend with BHB salts and apple cider vinegar; amount not disclosed | Turmeric, berberine, cinnamon, lemon balm; no stimulants listed |
| Animal Cuts | Inside a stimulant complex; amount not disclosed | Caffeine, guarana, yerba mate, kola nut, tea extracts, diuretic herbs |
Lunakai PRO GLP-1 Support lists raspberry ketone alongside green tea extract and garcinia, according to the label panel we reviewed. It is a dietary supplement, not a GLP-1 medication. Etta Vita GLP-1 Burn+ places raspberry ketones in the same blend as BHB salts, so one capsule contains both kinds of “ketone” described above; its label lists no caffeine. Animal Cuts puts raspberry ketones in a stimulant complex with caffeine and guarana, and its label warns against use under 18 or while pregnant or nursing, against combining it with other caffeinated products, and to stop use two weeks before surgery or at signs of liver trouble.
A seal from a testing program can confirm that a label matches what is in the bottle, which matters given the 2025 label findings, but it does not show that an ingredient works. Our guide to third-party tested supplements explains what those seals cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do raspberry ketones work for weight loss?
There is no good evidence that they do. Results come from mice and cells, and the only human trials tested blends that also contained caffeine and other stimulants.
Are raspberry ketones the same as keto ketones?
No. Raspberry ketone is a fruit aroma compound. The ketones made during fasting or a keto diet are mainly beta-hydroxybutyrate, a different molecule sold as BHB salts.
Are raspberry ketones safe?
Nobody knows at supplement amounts. The NIH says those amounts have never been evaluated for safety in humans, and animal toxicity data are limited.
Can I get raspberry ketones from eating raspberries?
Only in tiny amounts. A kilogram of raspberries holds just a few milligrams, far less than supplements contain.
Is raspberry ketone approved by the FDA?
The FDA allows it as a synthetic flavoring in food. It is not approved for weight loss, and the FDA does not approve supplements before they are sold.
Who should avoid raspberry ketone supplements?
Pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with heart conditions or high blood pressure, and anyone taking prescription medicines should ask a clinician first, especially for products that add stimulants.
Questions about a label? Contact us or read our Buyer’s Guide. Follow the label and ask a healthcare provider before starting any supplement, especially if you take medicines. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Last reviewed September 2026.
Related guides: Exogenous Ketones: What BHB Salts and Ketone Esters Do, and What They Don’t, Do Fat Burners Work? Thermogenic Ingredients, Evidence and Risks, Appetite Suppressants: Prescription Drugs, Natural Options and the Risks.