Can Ketone IQ Shots Boost Energy and Focus?

Endorsed by celebrities like Steven Bartlett, the Ketone IQ energy shots promise a new era of energy, including improved athletic performance and sharpened focus. But do ketone supplements actually work? Here's our Ketone IQ review.

Ketones are organic compounds that the body makes when it breaks down fat for energy. Normally, the cells use glucose as primary energy, but when they can't get enough glucose, they break down fat for energy instead, resulting in ketones. This process is called ketosis.

Ketosis can be induced by following a ketogenic or other carb-limiting diet, intense exercise, and prolonged fasting. While the evidence of the benefits of the keto diet remains inconclusive, some dieters report weight loss, increased energy levels, and improved focus.

However, the diet is highly restrictive and is associated with potential long-term risks like nutrient deficiencies, digestive issues, and kidney stones in some people.

So, can ketone supplements like Ketone IQ help achieve similar results without causing the risks associated with a ketogenic diet?

What is Ketone IQ?

Ketone IQ is an energy drink that contains a ketone precursor called R-1,3-Butanediol, which is used as a supplement to increase the levels of the ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB).

According to the manufacturer's website, it could be taken in addition to limiting carbohydrates, exercising, and intermittent fasting to maximize the results.

Energy shots should be taken one to four times a day and cost between $3.6 and $4.5 per serving.

The proposed benefits of Ketone IQ include the following:

• Stable energy with reduced crashes
• Improved athletic performance with maximum endurance and sustained energy
• Better focus and sharp thinking
• Improved metabolism due to curbed cravings and reduced appetite

What are Ketone IQ ingredients?

Ketone IQ energy shots, depending on the product, contain 5-10 g of R-1,3-Butanediol. Other ingredients may include L-malic acid, citric acid, stevia extract, and sucralose.

The energy drink comes in two versions, caffeine-free and caffeinated, which contains 100 mg of caffeine from green tea.

The Ketone IQ shots are vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, and third-party tested.

What are Ketone IQ side effects?

The manufacturer's website doesn't specify potential side effects and cites two studies from the 1970s indicating that supplementation with 1,3-Butanediol didn't cause significant adverse effects in humans.

Newer studies on 1,3-Butanediol suggest that its supplementation may cause nausea, dizziness, and headache, but these side effects are mild and infrequent and similar to those caused by other ketone supplements.

Ellie Abraham, PhD in plant biology and a chief scientific officer at Centera Bioscience, says many ketone supplement users report nausea, bloating, diarrhea, and stomach pain, especially with ketone salts.

Another risk of ketone supplementation is electrolyte imbalance, particularly posed by taking high doses of mineral-bound salts, which can significantly increase sodium, magnesium, and calcium intake in a single serving.

There are also risks of hypoglycemia, especially if supplementation is combined with carbohydrate restriction or exercise. Long-term safety remains unclear due to insufficient data on chronic use or high doses.

Ellie Abraham, PhD

Does Ketone IQ work?

As the benefits of R-1,3-Butanediol supplementation specifically are not extensively studied, it is hard to draw definitive conclusions about Ketone IQ effectiveness.

One study found that supplementation with R-1,3-Butanediol immediately before exercise improved anaerobic performance on a cycle ergometer test. However, the study was small in size – it included 12 healthy volunteers, and one of the authors is associated with the Ketone IQ manufacturer.

A 2019 study tested the effect of combined carbohydrate and 1,3-butanediol supplementation. It lowered blood lactate concentration, indicating better recovery, but didn't enhance 5 km running performance.

Abraham says that raising blood BHB levels can temporarily lower blood glucose and potentially serve as an alternative fuel source. That means short-lived energy levels may feel smoother and more sustained. However, well-designed athletic performance studies haven't provided consistent support for this conclusion.

She points to a comprehensive review concluding that 'evidence to date does not support a benefit of acute ketone supplementation on sports performance, cognition, or muscle recovery.'

According to the Ketone IQ manufacturer, ketones can act as fuel for the brain, helping users achieve and sustain peak mental acuity. Ketones indeed serve as the brain's alternative fuel and yield more adenosine triphosphate, the primary energy currency of cells, compared to glucose.

However, Abraham says the reports of improved focus from ketone supplementation are mostly anecdotal or derived from low-quality studies.

The evidence of metabolic benefits, such as lowered glucose levels or potentially improved insulin sensitivity, is better supported, she says. Ketone esters more effectively boost BHB and reduce glucose than salts; however evidence for tangible cognitive or metabolic improvements remains fairly limited.

The takeaway

Ketone IQ energy shots don't appear to cause major side effects, but more research is needed to determine the effectiveness of supplementation with R-1,3-Butanediol.

There is currently no strong evidence to support ketone supplementation in improving sports performance, cognition, or muscle recovery.