Raspberry ketone is a chemical from red raspberries, as well as kiwifruit, peaches, grapes, apples, other berries, vegetables such as rhubarb, and the bark of yew, maple, and pine trees.

Application

Raspberry ketone is a chemical from red raspberries that is thought to help for weight loss. Some research in animals or in test tubes shows that raspberry ketone might increase some measures of metabolism. It might also affect a hormone in the body called adiponectin. Adiponectin can increase the rate at which the body burns fat and reduce appetite. However, it is important to keep in mind that there is no reliable scientific evidence that raspberry ketone improves weight loss when taken by people.

People apply raspberry ketone to the skin for hair loss.

Raspberry ketone is also used in foods, cosmetics, and other manufacturing as a fragrance or flavoring agent.

Safety concerns

There isn't enough reliable information available to know if taking raspberry ketone alone is safe. There are some concerns about the safety of raspberry ketone because it is chemically related to a stimulant called synephrine. Therefore, it is possible that raspberry ketone might cause feelings of jitteriness, increase blood pressure, or rapid heartbeat. In one report, someone who took raspberry ketone described feelings of being shaky and a pounding heart beat (palpitations).

Special precautions & warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking raspberry ketone if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Diabetes: Raspberry ketone might lower blood sugar levels. In theory, raspberry ketone might make blood sugar drop too low in people already taking medications for diabetes.

Interactions with medications

Be cautious with this combination.

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)

Raspberry ketone might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking raspberry ketone along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to get too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.

Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, metformin (Glumetza, Fortamet, Glucophage, Riomet), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.

Stimulant drugs

Stimulant drugs speed up the nervous system. By speeding up the nervous system, stimulant medications can make you feel jittery and speed up your heartbeat. Raspberry ketone might also speed up the nervous system. Taking raspberry ketone along with stimulant drugs might cause serious problems including increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Avoid taking stimulant drugs along with raspberry ketone.

Some stimulant drugs include amphetamine, caffeine, diethylpropion (Tenuate), methylphenidate, phentermine (Ionamin), pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, others), and many others.