New Ketone Supplement Drink May Control Blood Sugar by Mimicking Ketogenic Diet

UBCO Researcher Jonathan Little

UBCO researcher Jonathan Little suggests ketone supplement drink may help control blood sugar. Credit: UBC Okanagan

Need to control glucose? There’s a drink for that, says University of British Columbia professor.

With more people with diabetes and pre-diabetes looking for novel strategies to help control blood sugar, new research from University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus suggests that ketone monoester drinks—a popular new food supplement—may help do exactly that.

“There has been a lot of excitement and interest in ketone drinks and supplements, which have really only been on the market and available to consumers for the last couple of years,” says Jonathan Little, associate professor at UBC Okanagan’s School of Health and Exercise Sciences and study lead author. “Because they’re so new, there’s very little research on how they can influence metabolism and we’re among the first to look at their use in non-athletes.”

Little says that Type 2 diabetes is a disease whereby the body is unable to control the level of sugar in the blood because of defects in the functioning of a hormone called insulin.

“It’s a disease that’s becoming alarmingly common in Canada and approaching what many would consider epidemic levels,” he says. “While Type 2 diabetes can be controlled with medications or injectable insulin, many people are looking to options that don’t require taking pills every day or that are less invasive.”

Ketone supplements are proving fertile ground for research into Type 2 diabetes because, according to Little, ketones are the natural fuel source of the body when it’s in ketosis—the metabolic byproduct of consuming a low carbohydrate, ketogenic diet.

“There is mounting evidence that a low carbohydrate ketogenic diet is very effective in controlling blood sugar and even reversing Type 2 diabetes,” says Little. “We wanted to know what would happen if artificial ketones were given to those with obesity and at risk for Type 2 diabetes but who haven’t been dieting.”

To test the idea, Little and his team asked 15 people to consume a ketone drink after fasting overnight. After 30 minutes, they were then asked to drink a fluid containing 75 grams of sugar while blood samples were taken.

“It turns out that the ketone drink seemed to launch participants into a sort of pseudo-ketogenic state where they were better able to control their blood sugar levels with no changes to their insulin,” explains Little. “It demonstrates that these supplements may have real potential as a valuable tool for those with Type 2 diabetes.”

Little is quick to point out that ketone supplements are not a magic bullet in managing the disease.

“There are a number of problems that we still have to work out, including the fact that we still don’t know what the long-term effects of consuming ketones are,” he says. “And not to mention that the drink itself tastes absolutely terrible.”

“But for those that aren’t able to follow a strict and challenging ketogenic diet or for those that are looking for a new way to control blood sugars, this may be another strategy in helping to manage Type 2 diabetes.”

The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition with funding from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

Reference: “A ketone monoester drink reduces the glycemic response to an oral glucose challenge in individuals with obesity: a randomized trial” by Étienne Myette-Côté, Hannah G Caldwell, Philip N Ainslie, Kieran Clarke and Jonathan P Little, 10 October 2019, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz232

24 Comments on "New Ketone Supplement Drink May Control Blood Sugar by Mimicking Ketogenic Diet"

  1. Hi how can I get ketone supplements

    • Kristen Colleen | January 9, 2020 at 3:55 am | Reply

      Hi Paul! I can attest to this research, as I started my mom on our ketone supplements over a year ago and, within four months, she was able to completely stop taking her metformin medication. I can help you get your hands on a trial of ketones if you’d like to contact me. You can find me on Facebook under “Kristen Colleen” or email me at [email protected]

  2. I’d almost bet my life that all of the Keto drinks use artificial sweeteners. Not only am I allergic to them(yes, erythritol as well), but artificial sweeteners have been proven harmful. Why do they feel the need to sweeten EVERYTHING that could possibly help me?

    • I am with a company that has a natural bio-identical Ketone drink on the market since 2015 that was originally developed for the US Navy SEALS. Other research and experience is showing the same results.

  3. Hi if this is working
    It should be tried out
    Where can we get Ketone supplements

    • Kristen Colleen | January 9, 2020 at 3:53 am | Reply

      Hi Johan! I can attest to this research, as I started my mom on our ketone supplements over a year ago and, within four months, she was able to completely stop taking her metformin medication. I can help you get your hands on a trial of ketones if you’d like to contact me. You can find me on Facebook under “Kristen Colleen” or email me at [email protected]

    • Absolutely

  4. I found supplements like this at my local Target store. Look in the ingredients list for BHB (beta hydroxybutyrate). They are usually linked with Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium salts, which is good for raising your electrolytes, which is important for people metabolizing fat and thereby flushing out electrolytes.

  5. I love the research that is coming out with this. Not all are created equal obviously. A lot of companies use cheap fillers, not high quality ingredients (same with keto foods) you must read labels! So many are labeled “keto” but are so far from actually being keto. Kudos to those who are looking into this! I have loved helping people for the last few years with this topic. Keto, low carb, and ketone supplements.

  6. That s a good ideas for diabetes pple me am obesity I need to get out

  7. How can I get that drink

  8. Tracy Underwood | January 9, 2020 at 1:14 pm | Reply

    My company is marketing a successful ketosis producing powder which is mixed with water. It’s amazing. Has 4 BHP salts plus tons of nutrients and is sweetened with Mink fruit and small amounts of Stevia. Selling like hot cakes and helping people tremendously.

  9. Where are these supplements being sold?

    • Kristen Colleen | January 9, 2020 at 6:30 pm | Reply

      Hi Ruth! My name is Kristen and I can attest to research such as this! I started my Mom on our ketones in December of 2018. Within the first month, her metformin was halved and within the three months following that, it was completely removed from her daily regime! I can also speak in terms of its efficacy with anxiety and depression as I suffered greatly with that myself before starting ketones almost two years ago now.
      I can definitely help you out if you’re at all interested in purchasing a trial. You can reach me at [email protected] .

  10. Edward Villarubia | January 9, 2020 at 3:05 pm | Reply

    WHERE can we get this so call keto please need to know.

  11. This article is Amazing and true! My husband and I found what works for our bodies and together we have lost 160 pounds so far….and we are not done yet!
    We started drinking Ketones 2 years ago and he is a T2 and went from 6 meds a day to 1. I was unhealthy and taking 13 meds a day and now take NONE!😱
    I can’t do the strict diet to save my life. So grateful for pure therapeutic ketones!
    The only thing I’m consistent with is drinking them every day!
    Send me a friend request and follow my journey on FB. I love making new friends and this is just the beginning for me!

    Want to join us?
    Hauck.challenge.com

  12. What are the results using these supplements in regards for weight loss?

    • It helps with fat loss, if you don’t have weight to lose you won’t lose weight. If you have fat to lose it helps burn that. People are getting incredible results!! It puts your body into ketosis without the super restrictive diet! Feel free to ask me any questions [email protected]

    • Kristen Colleen | January 13, 2020 at 7:23 am | Reply

      Hi Mari! Fat loss is an added benefit, although not the initial intention for the ketogenic diet or ketones. It was initially designed for infants and children with severe epilepsy. If you have fat to lose and you’re eating a low-carb diet together with the ketones, it can definitely work in terms of the fat loss benefits.

  13. Kristen Colleen | January 9, 2020 at 6:42 pm | Reply

    Hi guys! I’m thrilled to see the research being done with ketone drinks and how we can all benefit from them in some way or another. I’m ecstatic to say my Mom is one of the lucky few who has found her way out of T2! We started her on ketones in December of 2018. By January, her metformin was halved. Within the following three months it was completely removed from her regime. Further – I suffered from severe depression and post partum anxiety for years before I decided it was time to s*** or get off the pot. My kids needed a happier, healthier Mama and someone they could look up to and be proud of. Within the first four days of starting ketone drinks, I went from barely being able to drag my wee arse out of bed because I HAD TO, to WANTING to get out of bed because my home had been neglected for the better part of three years. Carpets needed cleaning, closets needed organizing – it was a complete turnaround for me. To say they gave me my life back is an understatement. If any of this resonates with you at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Shoot me an email ([email protected]) or find me on Facebook under “Kristen Colleen” .

    kristencolleen.challenge.com

Leave a Reply to Salena Hauck Cancel reply

Email address is optional. If provided, your email will not be published or shared.