BETA - HYDROXYBUTYRATE (BHB)

Other Names:

Beta-Hydroxybutyric Acid, BHB, Calcium-D,L-3-Hydroxybutyrate, D-3-Hydroxybutyrate, D-Beta-Hydroxybutyrate, D-Beta-Hydroxybutyric Acid, Glyceryl-Tris-3-Hydroxybutyrate, L-Beta-Hydroxybutyrate, L-Beta-Hydroxybutyric Acid, Sodium-D, L-3-Hydroxybuty...
See All Names

Review this Treatment 7 User Reviews See Brand Products

BETA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE BHB Overview Information

Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is a chemical that is made by the body to provide energy in times when not enough carbohydrates or sugars have been eaten. BHB can also be made in the lab and taken as a supplement.

BHB is used for dry eye, athletic performance, migraine, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

How does it work?

BHB is a chemical that is used as energy by some cells of the body when sugar levels are low. BHB seems to help nerves and the brain to work better. BHB might be used as energy by muscles in the body to improve exercise ability.

BETA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE BHB Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence for:

Athletic performance. Early research on the use of BHB for athletic performance is mixed. Small studies show that taking BHB before cycling doesn't decrease fatigue or improve power while cycling. But another small study shows that taking a chemical called 3-hydroxybutyl-3-hydroxybutyrate, which turns into BHB in the body, might help athletes to run faster.
Dry eye. Applying eye drops containing BHB doesn't seem to improve eye symptoms in patients with dry eyes.
Obesity. Early research suggests that BHB might help to preserve muscle mass and reduce feelings of hunger in overweight people who are on a very low-calorie diet or a starvation diet.
Alzheimer disease.
Migraine.
Parkinson disease.
Epilepsy.
Other uses.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of BHB for these uses.

BETA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE BHB Side Effects & Safety

When taken by mouth: BHB is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken as a single dose once. Some people might have stomach upset, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain. These side effects are more likely to happen when very high doses are used.

When applied into the eye: BHB is POSSIBLY SAFE. An eye drop containing 1% BHB has been used without side effects for up to 4 weeks.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if BHB is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

BETA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE BHB Interactions

We currently have no information for BETA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE BHB Interactions

BETA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE BHB Dosing

The appropriate dose of BHB depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for BHB. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

View clinical references for this vitamin or supplement Sources

References:

Achanta LB, Rae CD. ß-Hydroxybutyrate in the brain: One molecule, multiple mechanisms. Neurochem Res. 2017;42(1):35-49. View abstract.

Beylot M, Chassard D, Chambrier C, et al. Metabolic effects of a D-beta-hydroxybutyrate infusion in septic patients: inhibition of lipolysis and glucose production but not leucine oxidation. Crit Care Med. 1994;22(7):1091-8. View abstract.

Clarke K, Tchabanenko K, Pawlosky R, et al. Kinetics, safety and tolerability of (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate in healthy adult subjects. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2012;63(3):401-8. View abstract.

Cox PJ, Kirk T, Ashmore T, et al. Nutritional ketosis alters fuel preference and thereby endurance performance in athletes. Cell Metab. 2016;24(2):256-68. View abstract.

Evans M, Cogan KE, Egan B. Metabolism of ketone bodies during exercise and training: physiological basis for exogenous supplementation. J Physiol. 2017;595(9):2857-2871. View abstract.

Evans M, Patchett E, Nally R, Kearns R, Larney M, Egan B. Effect of acute ingestion of β-hydroxybutyrate salts on the response to graded exercise in trained cyclists. Eur J Sport Sci. 2018;18(3):376-86. View abstract.

Gautschi M, Weisstanner C, Slotboom J, Nava E, Zürcher T, Nuoffer JM. Highly efficient ketone body treatment in multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency-related leukodystrophy. Pediatr Res. 2015;77(1-1):91-8. View abstract.

Gross EC, Sandor P, Fischer D. Preliminary data on exogenous ketone bodies in migraine prevention. Cephalalgia 2017; 37(1S) 52-171.

Hashim SA, VanItallie TB. Ketone body therapy: from the ketogenic diet to the oral administration of ketone ester. J Lipid Res. 2014;55(9):1818-26. View abstract.

Hiraide A, Katayama M, Sugimoto H, Yoshioka T, Sugimoto T. Effect of 3-hydroxybutyrate on posttraumatic metabolism in man. Surgery. 1991;109(2):176-81. View abstract.

Holdsworth DA, Cox PJ, Kirk T, Stradling H, Impey SG, Clarke K. A ketone ester drink increases postexercise muscle glycogen synthesis in humans. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2017;49(9):1789-1795. View abstract.

Kawakita T, Uchino M, Fukagawa K, et al. Randomized, multicenter, double-blind study of the safety and efficacy of 1%D-3-hydroxybutyrate eye drops for dry eye disease. Sci Rep. 2016;6:20855. View abstract.

Kemper MF, Srivastava S, Todd King M, Clarke K, Veech RL, Pawlosky RJ. An ester of ß-hydroxybutyrate regulates cholesterol biosynthesis in rats and a cholesterol biomarker in humans. Lipids. 2015;50(12):1185-93. View abstract.

McNally MA, Hartman AL. Ketone bodies in epilepsy. J Neurochem. 2012;121(1):28-35. View abstract.

Newman JC, Verdin E. ß-Hydroxybutyrate: A signaling metabolite. Annu Rev Nutr. 2017;37:51-76. View abstract.

Newport MT, VanItallie TB, Kashiwaya Y, King MT, Veech RL. A new way to produce hyperketonemia: use of ketone ester in a case of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2015;11(1):99-103. View abstract.

Pawan GL, Semple SJ. Effect of 3-hydroxybutyrate in obese subjects on very-low-energy diets and during therapeutic starvation. Lancet. 1983;1(8314-5):15-7. View abstract.

Plecko B, Stoeckler-Ipsiroglu S, Schober E, et al. Oral beta-hydroxybutyrate supplementation in two patients with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia: monitoring of beta-hydroxybutyrate levels in blood and cerebrospinal fluid, and in the brain by in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Pediatr Res. 2002;52(2):301-6. View abstract.

Reger MA, Henderson ST, Hale C, et al. Effects of beta-hydroxybutyrate on cognition in memory-impaired adults. Neurobiol Aging. 2004;25(3):311-4. View abstract.

Simeone TA, Simeone KA, Stafstrom CE, Rho JM. Do ketone bodies mediate the anti-seizure effects of the ketogenic diet? Neuropharmacology. 2018;133:233-241. View abstract.

Thomsen HH, Rittig N, Johannsen M, et al. Effects of 3-hydroxybutyrate and free fatty acids on muscle protein kinetics and signaling during LPS-induced inflammation in humans: anticatabolic impact of ketone bodies. Am J Clin Nutr. 2018;108(4):857-67. View abstract.

Valayannopoulos V, Bajolle F, Arnoux JB, et al. Successful treatment of severe cardiomyopathy in glycogen storage disease type III With D,L-3-hydroxybutyrate, ketogenic and high-protein diet. Pediatr Res. 2011;70(6):638-41. View abstrtact.

Van Hove JL, Grünewald S, Jaeken J, et al. D,L-3-hydroxybutyrate treatment of multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD). Lancet. 2003;361(9367):1433-5. View abstract.

Van Rijt WJ, Heiner-Fokkema MR, du Marchie Sarvaas GJ, et al. Favorable outcome after physiologic dose of sodium-D,L-3-hydroxybutyrate in severe MADD. Pediatrics. 2014;134(4):e1224-8. View abstract.

Waldman HS, Basham SA, Price FG, et al. Exogenous ketone salts do not improve cognitive responses after a high-intensity exercise protocol in healthy college-aged males. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2018;43(7):711-7. View abstract.

Woods WG, Pawan GL, Semple SJ, Ralphs DN. Effect of intravenous 3-hydroxybutyrate on postoperative nitrogen balance. Hum Nutr Clin Nutr. 1983;37(5):391-4. View abstract.

Woolf EC, Syed N, Scheck AC. Tumor metabolism, the ketogenic diet and ß-hydroxybutyrate: novel approaches to adjuvant brain tumor therapy. Front Mol Neurosci. 2016;9:122. View abstract.

See 7 Reviews for this Treatment - OR -

Learn about User Reviews and read IMPORTANT information about user generated content

Conditions of Use and Important Information: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version. © Therapeutic Research Faculty 2009.

Vitamins & Supplements

Top Supplements

Drugs and Medications Center

Living Healthy Resources

Today on WebMD

Vitamins Quiz

Do you know your vitamin ABCs?

11 Supplements for Menopause

Ease hot flashes and other symptoms.

Vitamin B12

Are you getting enough?

Vitamin D

Wonder pill or overkill?

Video

Powerhouse Fruits and Veggies

Article

Vitamin Overload: Can It Hurt You?

Article

About Sleep Herbs and Supplements

Article

St. John's Wort for Depression

IMPORTANT: About This Section and Other User-Generated Content on WebMD

The opinions expressed in WebMD User-generated content areas like communities, reviews, ratings, or blogs are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. User-generated content areas are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatment or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.

Do not consider WebMD User-generated content as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.