goBHB® (Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Ketone Salts)

Raises blood ketone levels within an hour

In studies of other BHB salts, a single dose raised blood BHB in healthy adults within 30 to 45 minutes, to peaks of about 0.5 to 1.0 mmol/L, and the usable D form returned to baseline within 3 to 4 hours. A ketone ester drink at a similar BHB dose reached a higher peak sooner. No study has measured this for goBHB itself, and a higher ketone reading is a change in blood chemistry, not a benefit in itself.

Mental performance tests after a dose of BHB salts

In two placebo-controlled trials in young men, a BHB salt drink taken before exercise raised blood ketones but did not improve a light-response reaction task, mental arithmetic or Stroop color-word scores. In a six-week trial of adults on a reduced-calorie ketogenic diet, a salt group had better week-two mood and math processing scores than a mineral-free placebo group, which also took in less sodium.

Appetite and hunger after exogenous ketones

The appetite signal comes from a ketone ester, not a salt: in 15 normal-weight adults, one ester drink lowered the hunger hormone ghrelin and self-reported hunger for a few hours versus a dextrose drink. A 24-hour study that added about 39 g of ketone salts to a normal diet found no change in appetite ratings, and a short drop in hunger is not weight loss.

Exercise performance in BHB salt trials

In a crossover trial in ten healthy men, a BHB salt dose before cycling increased fat burning but lowered average power in a following high-intensity time trial by about 7 percent versus placebo. In another trial, a salt drink did not change repeated sprint power and the fatigue index was higher. A month of high-dose ketone ester in runners did not change 5 km times either.

Fuel for cells once absorbed

Ketone bodies serve as an alternative source of ATP for cells when glucose is scarce, which is the rationale for taking exogenous BHB. In a racemic salt only the D form behaves like the ketone the body makes: it returned to baseline within 3 to 4 hours and was converted to breath acetone, while the L form stayed in the blood for over 8 hours.

NLRP3 inflammasome signaling in laboratory studies

In cell and mouse studies, BHB blocked activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by preventing potassium efflux and reducing ASC assembly, which lowered IL-1β and IL-18 release, including from human immune cells grown in the laboratory. These are laboratory findings, not demonstrated effects of goBHB in people.

Common Potential side effects

Digestive symptoms can occur. In a study of ketone drinks at rest, symptoms were mostly mild and short-lived, but a high-dose salt drink caused a greater symptom load than a low-dose salt drink or a ketone ester, so starting with a small serving is sensible.

Each serving carries calcium, magnesium and sodium. One goBHB capsule label lists 43 mg calcium, 28 mg magnesium and 33 mg sodium per 800 mg of blend; at that ratio a 12 g serving would supply about 650 mg calcium, 420 mg magnesium and 500 mg sodium. That magnesium amount is above the 350 mg adult upper limit NIH gives for supplemental magnesium, which can cause diarrhea and cramping. Products vary, so read the label, and use caution with high blood pressure, a sodium-restricted diet or kidney disease.

The goBHB label checked lists the racemic (dl) salts; in a study of a racemic BHB salt, the poorly used L form stayed in the blood for over 8 hours.

Blood glucose can fall after a dose: in one salt trial glucose was 5 to 9 percent lower than with placebo during testing. People on insulin or other glucose-lowering medicines should ask their doctor first.

A 2022 European safety review could not establish the safety of a sodium, magnesium and calcium BHB salt blend (not named as goBHB) as a novel food, citing gaps in the applicant's data.

Not studied in pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Important Drug interactions

Formal drug-interaction studies of goBHB or other BHB salts are lacking.

Insulin, sulfonylureas and other glucose-lowering medicines: BHB salts and other exogenous ketones lowered blood glucose in human studies, so the effects could add up; monitor blood sugar and speak with your prescriber.

Diuretics, potassium-affecting blood-pressure medicines or a sodium-restricted diet: the salts add sodium, calcium and magnesium, so check the label minerals and ask a doctor before use.

Frequently asked questions about goBHB® (Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Ketone Salts)

What is goBHB?

goBHB® is a branded beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) ketone salt ingredient marketed by Compound Solutions. BHB is the main ketone the body makes during fasting or carbohydrate restriction, and cells can burn it for fuel.

What is goBHB used for?

NutraSmarts does not list goBHB under a health category. What the research covers: In studies of other BHB salts, a single dose raised blood BHB in healthy adults within 30 to 45 minutes, to peaks of about 0.5 to 1.0 mmol/L, and the usable D form returned to baseline within 3 to 4 hours.

What is the recommended dosage of goBHB?

No dose of goBHB itself has been tested in a published human trial. Trials of other BHB salts used about 11 g, or 0.3 to 0.38 g per kg of body weight, before exercise or testing, and raised blood ketones to peaks of about 0.5 to 1.0 mmol/L. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is goBHB safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for goBHB include: Digestive symptoms can occur. In a study of ketone drinks at rest, symptoms were mostly mild and short-lived, but a high-dose salt drink caused a greater symptom load than a low-dose salt drink or a ketone ester, so starting with a small serving is sensible. It may also interact with some medications. goBHB is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does goBHB interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Formal drug-interaction studies of goBHB or other BHB salts are lacking. Insulin, sulfonylureas and other glucose-lowering medicines: BHB salts and other exogenous ketones lowered blood glucose in human studies, so the effects could add up; monitor blood sugar and speak with your… If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for goBHB?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for goBHB as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 14 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(14 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

Prins PJ, Buga A, Storoschuk K, Buxton JD, Jenkins AK, Eklund CS, Dacey VC, Belitz SE, Sullivan RJ, Gerhart HD, D'Agostino DP, Volek JS, Koutnik AP. The Effects of 31-Day Exogenous Ketone Consumption on Running Performance, Cognitive Function, Metabolism, Body Composition, Hemodynamics, and Mood in Recreational Runners: A Randomized-Control Trial. J Am Nutr Assoc. 2026;45(6):545-560. doi: 10.1080/27697061.2026.2636551.PubMedUsed to support: Generic ketone ester evidence, not a goBHB study. Single-blind randomized trial in 18 recreational runners: 31 days of high-dose ketone monoester (90 g/day), not the salts sold here, did not change 5-km running performance or mood. Executive-function test times improved. The ester raised blood BHB to about 3 mmol/L, well above what these salts reach.
Stubbs BJ, Cox PJ, Evans RD, Cyranka M, Clarke K, de Wet H. A Ketone Ester Drink Lowers Human Ghrelin and Appetite. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2018;26(2):269-273. doi: 10.1002/oby.22051.PubMedUsed to support: Generic ketone ester evidence, not a goBHB study. Acute crossover in 15 normal-weight adults: a ketone ester drink (not the salts sold here) raised blood BHB to about 3.3 mmol/L and lowered ghrelin, hunger and desire to eat for a few hours versus a dextrose drink. Appetite only, no weight-loss outcome.
Kackley ML, Brownlow ML, Buga A, Crabtree CD, Sapper TN, O'Connor A, Volek JS. The effects of a 6-week controlled, hypocaloric ketogenic diet, with and without exogenous ketone salts, on cognitive performance and mood states in overweight and obese adults. Front Neurosci. 2022;16:971144. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.971144.PubMedUsed to support: Generic ketone salt evidence, not a goBHB study. Six-week controlled-feeding trial in overweight and obese adults on a hypocaloric ketogenic diet: a racemic ketone salt with sodium, calcium and magnesium from Metagenics (n=12) versus a mineral-free placebo (n=13). At week 2 the placebo group had higher depression and anger scores, and math processing scores were lower with placebo than with the salt; the authors saw no consistent decline in mood or cognition in either ketogenic group. The salt was tested only on top of a ketogenic diet, and the placebo group took in less sodium, so the difference cannot be credited to BHB alone. Funded by Metagenics, and two authors were its employees.
Stubbs BJ, Cox PJ, Evans RD, Santer P, Miller JJ, Faull OK, Magor-Elliott S, Hiyama S, Stirling M, Clarke K. On the Metabolism of Exogenous Ketones in Humans. Front Physiol. 2017;8:848. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00848.PubMedUsed to support: Generic BHB salt evidence, not a goBHB study. Randomized metabolic studies in healthy volunteers: a sodium plus potassium BHB salt drink raised blood D-BHB to a lower peak than a ketone ester (about 1.0 vs 2.8 mmol/L), and D-BHB returned to baseline within 3 to 4 hours. The salt was 50 percent L-BHB, which stayed raised in blood for over 8 hours; D-BHB, but not L-BHB, was slowly converted to breath acetone. In a second study a ketone ester reached 3.3 mmol/L fasted and 2.2 mmol/L after a meal. All ketone drinks lowered blood glucose.
O'Malley T, Myette-Cote E, Durrer C, Little JP. Nutritional ketone salts increase fat oxidation but impair high-intensity exercise performance in healthy adult males. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2017;42(10):1031-1035. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2016-0641.PubMedUsed to support: Generic BHB salt evidence, not a goBHB study. Randomized crossover in 10 healthy men: 0.3 g/kg BHB ketone salts 30 minutes before cycling raised blood BHB and fat oxidation during steady exercise, but average power in a following 150-kJ time trial was about 7 percent lower (16 W less, p=0.029) than with placebo.
Waldman HS, Basham SA, Price FG, Smith JW, Chander H, Knight AC, Krings BM, McAllister MJ. Exogenous ketone salts do not improve cognitive responses after a high-intensity exercise protocol in healthy college-aged males. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2018;43(7):711-717. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2017-0724.PubMedUsed to support: Generic BHB salt evidence, not a goBHB study. Trial in 15 healthy college-aged men given 11.38 g of BHB or a placebo drink 30 minutes before exercise: blood BHB was 0.53 vs 0.21 mmol/L. The salt did not improve a light-response cognitive task or repeated sprint (Wingate) power output, and the fatigue index was higher with the salt (32.3 vs 29.4 W/s).
Waldman HS, Shepherd BD, Egan B, McAllister MJ. Exogenous Ketone Salts Do Not Improve Cognitive Performance During a Dual-Stress Challenge. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2020;30(2):120-127. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.2019-0122.PubMedUsed to support: Generic BHB salt evidence, not a goBHB study. Triple-blind crossover in 16 healthy college-aged men: a commercially available racemic (D and L) BHB salt at 0.38 g/kg raised blood BHB to a peak of about 0.76 mmol/L and lowered blood glucose versus placebo by 9 and 5 percent at two time points, but did not change mental arithmetic or Stroop color-word performance during a cycling dual-stress challenge.
Hägele FA, Dörner R, Koop J, Lübken M, Seidel U, Rimbach G, Müller MJ, Bosy-Westphal A. Impact of one-day fasting, ketogenic diet or exogenous ketones on control of energy balance in healthy participants. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2023;55:292-299. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2023.03.025.PubMedUsed to support: Generic ketone salt evidence, not a goBHB study. Randomized 24-hour crossover in 8 healthy adults in a whole-room calorimeter: adding 38.7 g/day of ketone salts to a normal diet raised blood ketones only slightly and did not change total or sleeping energy expenditure or subjective appetite ratings.
Stubbs BJ, Cox PJ, Kirk T, Evans RD, Clarke K. Gastrointestinal Effects of Exogenous Ketone Drinks are Infrequent, Mild, and Vary According to Ketone Compound and Dose. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2019;29(6):596-603. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.2019-0014.PubMedUsed to support: Digestive symptoms recorded in three studies of ketone monoester and ketone salt drinks. Symptoms were acute but mild and resolved by the end of each study. A high-dose salt drink caused a greater total symptom load than a low-dose salt drink and a greater symptom load than ester drinks 1 to 2 hours after drinking. The first author was affiliated with HVMN Inc., a ketone product company.
Youm YH, Nguyen KY, Grant RW, Goldberg EL, Bodogai M, Kim D, D'Agostino D, Planavsky N, Lupfer C, Kanneganti TD, Kang S, Horvath TL, Fahmy TM, Crawford PA, Biragyn A, Alnemri E, Dixit VD. The ketone metabolite β-hydroxybutyrate blocks NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammatory disease. Nat Med. 2015;21(3):263-9. doi: 10.1038/nm.3804.PubMedUsed to support: Cell and mouse study (not a human supplement trial): BHB suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation by preventing potassium efflux and reducing ASC oligomerization, lowered IL-1β and IL-18 production in human monocytes in the laboratory, and reduced inflammasome activity in mouse models. The abstract also describes ketone bodies as alternative sources of ATP during energy deficit.
EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA), Turck D, Bohn T, Castenmiller J, De Henauw S, Hirsch-Ernst KI, Maciuk A, Mangelsdorf I, McArdle HJ, Naska A, Pelaez C, Pentieva K, Siani A, Thies F, Tsabouri S, Vinceti M, Cubadda F, Frenzel T, Heinonen M, Prieto Maradona M, Marchelli R, Neuhäuser-Berthold M, Poulsen M, Schlatter JR, van Loveren H, Albert O, Goumperis T, Knutsen HK. Safety of β-hydroxybutyrate salts as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA J. 2022;20(10):e07449. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7449.PubMedUsed to support: European safety opinion on a sodium, magnesium and calcium BHB salt blend proposed as an ingredient in drink mixes and in food supplements at up to 6 g/day; the opinion does not name goBHB. Because of inconsistencies in the applicant's data on identity, composition and the test items used, the panel could not establish a safe intake level and concluded that the safety of the novel food had not been established.
Real Ketones (Supplement Facts panel on a Vitacost retail listing). Real Ketones, Ketone Charged, goBHB®, Caffeine Free, 60 Capsules. Vitacost product listing. 2026;Accessed October 2026. https://www.vitacost.com/products/real-ketones-ketone-charged-gobhb-caffeine-free-60-capsules-154254.SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed; retail Supplement Facts panel read in October 2026. Per 2 capsules it lists an 800 mg goBHB® Ketone Blend as dl-beta-hydroxybutyrate calcium, magnesium and sodium (the racemic form), supplying 43 mg calcium, 28 mg magnesium and 33 mg sodium. Mineral amounts differ between goBHB products, so this is one example label.
Menayang A. Compound Solutions takes legal action to defend patents on goBHB keto ingredient. NutraIngredients. 2018;8 November 2018. https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2018/11/08/Compound-Solutions-takes-legal-action-to-defend-patents-on-goBHB-keto-ingredient.SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed; trade press article. Reports that California-based Compound Solutions markets goBHB, described as a branded version of a BHB ketone salt, and that the company took legal action in 2018 over a patent it had sublicensed for the ingredient.
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Magnesium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. 2026;Updated January 6, 2026; accessed October 2026. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/.SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed; read in October 2026. States that the Tolerable Upper Intake Level for supplemental magnesium is 350 mg for adults and that high intakes from supplements can cause diarrhea, nausea and abdominal cramping.