Raspberry Ketones
EVIDENCE: INSUFFICIENTAlso sold as: raspberry ketone, rheosmin, 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)butan-2-one
Raspberry ketone is the compound that gives raspberries their smell. Its weight-loss reputation comes from mouse studies; no human trial has tested it alone, and a Danish food-safety team raised concerns about supplement doses with little toxicity data.
Compiled by iSupplementReviews editorial team ·Researched 2026-10-16 · 3 sources
- Type
- Aroma compound (usually synthetic)
- Studied dose
- No standalone human trials; supplements sell 100–1,400 mg/day
- Best form
- none established
- Our rating
- INSUFFICIENT — No meaningful human evidence
What is raspberry ketone?
Raspberry ketone is the aroma molecule that makes raspberries smell like raspberries. The food industry uses it as a flavoring; supplement makers sell it for weight loss.
Other names and forms
Rheosmin, raspberry ketone, frambinone. Nearly all supplement raspberry ketone is synthetic.
Where does raspberry ketone come from?
Raspberries contain only trace amounts (up to about 4 mg per kilogram of fruit, per Bredsdorff et al.), so commercial supply is made in labs.
How does raspberry ketone work in the body?
In mice fed a high-fat diet, it reduced weight gain and changed fat-cell signaling (Morimoto et al., 2005). Whether any of that happens in people is unknown.
What is raspberry ketone claimed to do?
Burn fat and speed up metabolism.
What does the research show?
| Claim | Evidence | Dose studied | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight loss | Mouse studies; human trials only in blends | — | Insufficient |
| Safety at supplement doses | Short rat studies only | — | Uncertain |
The human trials
The only human trials used blends, so raspberry ketone’s own effect is unknown. Lopez et al. (2013) tested an 8-week product that also contained caffeine, capsaicin, garlic, ginger and bitter orange. Improvements could come from any of them.
What dose was studied?
No dose has been studied on its own in people. Supplements recommend 100–1,400 mg a day.
Side effects
Unknown at supplement doses. Case reports describe palpitations with blends containing it alongside stimulants.
Drug interactions
Not studied. A structural similarity to synephrine raises a theoretical concern with stimulants.
Who should not take raspberry ketone?
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or who have heart conditions, given the absence of safety data.
What the authorities say
The Danish food-safety team behind the 2015 review concluded that recommended supplement doses are a safety concern given the limited data (Bredsdorff et al.). It is not approved as a novel food ingredient in some European markets.
What to know about raspberry ketone
Raspberry ketone has no standalone human evidence for weight loss and limited safety data. Its reputation rests on mouse research.
Frequently asked questions about Raspberry Ketones
Do raspberry ketones help you lose weight?
There is no human evidence that they do on their own. The idea comes from a 2005 mouse study, and the only human trials tested multi-ingredient products where raspberry ketone's own effect can't be separated.
Are raspberry ketones from raspberries?
Rarely. Raspberries contain only a few milligrams per kilogram, so supplements almost always use a synthetic version made for the flavor industry.
Are raspberry ketones safe?
Unknown at supplement doses. A 2015 safety review by Danish food scientists noted that toxicity data are limited to short rat studies and that recommended intakes raise a safety concern.
References
- [1]Morimoto C et al. — Anti-obese action of raspberry ketone (Life Sci, 2005)
- [2]Bredsdorff L et al. — Raspberry ketone in food supplements: high intake, few toxicity data, a cause for safety concern? (Regul Toxicol Pharmacol, 2015)
- [3]Lopez HL et al. — Eight weeks of supplementation with a multi-ingredient weight loss product enhances body composition, reduces hip and waist girth, and increases energy levels in overweight men and women (J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 2013)
Products we reviewed containing Raspberry Ketones
Based on recorded labels or seller-described formulas. Inclusion does not establish a match to the strains, preparations or amounts studied here; check each review's disclosure limits.