The exogenous ketones are external substances produced to achieve the same results and benefits of the ketogenic diet. They are ketone bodies that come from outside. These external substances are found in food supplements that should lead to rapid weight loss when consumed, as they bring the body into a state of ketosis.
Ketosis is a metabolic condition that consists of an accumulation of ketones in the blood. It occurs when in the absence of blood sugar (glucose). The body starts to burn fat to derive energy. It occurs during a prolonged fast or a prolonged carbohydrate deprivation, the basic principle of the ketogenic diet. They are available in two different types: ketone salts and ketone esters.
What Are Exogenous Ketones Used For?
The goal of taking exogenous ketones is to cause an increase in ketone bodies in the blood, and if consumed, they should be beneficial and keep the user’s body in a state of ketosis.
A condition of ketosis achieved with the increase of ketones in the blood is not comparable to the state of ketosis that occurs with a reduction in carbohydrates provided for by the keto diet. Therefore, it is not certain that the same situation can be recreated by taking ketones exogenously.
Therefore, there are different aspects between the two conditions of ketosis, one physiological and one obtained with exogenous ketones, as presented below:
- The physiological ketosis has as its results: a high concentration of ketones, a reduction in insulin production, and a high concentration of free fatty acids.
- The ketosis with exogenous ketones has some characteristics: a high concentration of ketones, a production of slightly elevated insulin, and a reduced concentration of free fatty.
What Are the Effects of Exogenous Ketones?
The intake of these external substances does not give the same results that a ketogenic diet can bring. Some of the main effects include:
- Reduction in blood sugar
- Reduction in the production of glucose by the liver
- Reduction of the activity of some enzymes essential for the oxidation of carbohydrates
- Reduction of the release of fatty acids from adipose tissue. This reduction occurs because the body senses a high increase in ketones in the blood and becomes alert, and to defend itself, it reduces the consumption of fatty acids.
As for effect on weight loss, following a normal diet and taking exogenous supplements does not lead to the desired results in two respects.
The first aspect is linked to consuming these external substances, which are used as energy sources mainly by the heart, muscles, and brain. Consequently, there is a saving of sugars and fats that will accumulate at the adipose tissue level; another important aspect is that in exogenously induced ketosis, a situation is created that leads to a reduction in the use of fat reserves.
Therefore, you will not have the same effects on weight loss that can be obtained with a low-calorie diet and with the exact condition of ketosis created and allows you to use the body’s fat reserves.
It is good to be very careful when deciding to take this type of supplement, which is a valid help to refuel energy, but if you ignore what you eat or do not follow a diet correctly, they do not give many results.