Ketones or Ketone bodies can be produced in your body (endogenously).
Ketones that come from sources “outside of your body,” typically referred to as supplements, are EXOGENOUS.
The common supplements found in the market today only contain bHB (beta-hydroxybutrate ketone). Acetoacetate, which is the other primary ketone body, is not utilized in supplements for a number of reasons, including it’s less effective in raising blood ketone level.
Types of Exogenous Ketones
- Ketone salts: These are ketone acid bound to a salt, typically sodium, potassium, calcium or magnesium. They’re most often found in powder form and mixed with liquid. Some Ketone supplement companies offer ready to drink products where salts are dissolved in water.
- Ketone esters: These are a ketone acid linked to an alcohol, the compound is called an ester and packaged in liquid form. There is no other way to package ester. Ketone esters are used primarily in research and are very expensive, and taste notoriously bad.
Both forms of ketone supplements make claims to increase ketones. The only way to see results is to test with a blood ketone monitor to quantify levels. Salts are not nearly as effective in increasing blood ketones, period.
For reference, most available ketone supplements contain 8–12 grams of ketones per serving. Not all are equal. Most of the ketones contained in these products are racemic (synthetic and are made in China).