A Ketone Ester Drink Lowers Human Ghrelin and Appetite

Many diets fail due to the inability to reduce food intake caused by increased hunger which is driven in large part, by hormones including the “hunger hormone” ghrelin. Ghrelin stimulates hunger and feeding in response to restricted food intake. Ketogenic diets (KD) are a promising strategy for weight loss, which may be caused by the effect of ketone bodies, including Beta-Hydroxybutyrate (β-HB), on hunger hormones. Consuming a ketone ester drink (KE) containing β-HB rapidly elevated blood ketones and reduced the desire to eat and perceived hunger by 50% for up to 4 hours. Elevated β-HB corresponded to significantly reduced levels of ghrelin 2-4 hours after consumption of KE. These findings point to a direct role of β-HB in the suppression of hunger associated with KD, and support the use of KE containing β-HB as a strategy to reduce hunger and aid weight loss during prolonged fasting or caloric restriction.

View the full peer-reviewed scientific paper at the National Library of Medicine.