Beta-Hydroxybutyrate: benefits by goal, the dosage that worked, and the supplements ranked
What the 7 human studies of Beta-Hydroxybutyrate we graded show for each goal, the dose that worked, and the products that hold it. This page is educational, not medical advice.
Beta-Hydroxybutyrate benefits, by goal: what the studies show
Members OnlyThe top 1 of 1 goals
1 of these 7 human studies gave Beta-Hydroxybutyrate by drip, not by mouth.
| Goal | What the studies show | Studies | Dose that worked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stress and Calm | No effect in studies 7 studies, 1 showed an improvement, 3 found none, 1 by drip, injection or inhaler | 7 | – |
Beta-Hydroxybutyrate supplements, ranked by the human studies
Members OnlyThe top 1 of 1
Beta-Hydroxybutyrate dosage: how much per day
The dose that worked in the studies, and the upper limit
No study we graded gave a dose that worked yet.
Biohacker panel
Members OnlyWhat our 10 biohackers say about Beta-Hydroxybutyrate
Ben Greenfield, 6 Mar 2026: Ben Greenfield's Boundless Bar is powered by goBHB®, a highly researched form of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), which the brain and muscles can use for fuel. Source
Thomas DeLauer, 20 Mar 2025: Discusses a study where giving animals beta-hydroxybutyrate, a molecule produced during fasting, had many of the same effects as time-restricted feeding and fasting in halting or reversing polycystic kidney disease. Source
Peter Attia, 1 May 2023: Notes that beta-hydroxybutyrate is a signaling molecule that activates BDNF, goes through the same transporter as lactate to get into the brain, and has shown some evidence of improving cognition in small clinical studies for Alzheimer's disease. Source
Dr. Mark Hyman, 9 Jul 2022: Explains that beta-hydroxybutyrate, produced by the liver during exercise, fasting, or a low-carb, high-fat diet, is not only an energetic molecule but also a powerful signaling molecule that influences neurochemistry and gene expression, contributing to brain health and behavior. Source
Dr. Eric Berg, 12 Sep 2020: Beta-Hydroxybutyrate suppresses Oxidative Stress. Source
Siim Land, 25 Jul 2020: States that beta-hydroxybutyrate is a very effective metabolic substrate that can help preserve energy production in the brain, even in cases of impaired metabolic machinery, and has anti-seizure neuroprotective effects. Source
Questions people ask
Members OnlyAnswered from the figures on this page
Can I take Beta-Hydroxybutyrate with my meds?
Some supplements can change how meds work or are absorbed. Members have every product checked against the meds in their Health Profile before it joins their protocol.
Educational, not medical advice. Figures come from the human studies on PubMed we have graded; a study counts for a form when it names the form it used. Updated as new studies arrive. How we grade →
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