As we age or deal with illness, our muscles naturally get weaker and smaller. Scientists are now looking at ketone bodies—special molecules our body makes when we eat very few carbohydrates—as a possible way to fight muscle loss. This review examines recent research on ketone supplements (pills or drinks you can buy) and how they might help muscles stay strong by boosting muscle growth and reducing muscle breakdown. While early results look promising, especially in healthy young people, researchers say we need more studies to know if this really works for older adults or sick patients over the long term.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether ketone supplements (a type of fuel your body can use instead of sugar) might help prevent or reverse muscle loss by making muscles bigger and stronger
  • Who participated: This is a review article that looked at many different studies. Most research so far has been done on healthy young men, with limited studies in older adults or people with diseases
  • Key finding: Early research suggests ketone supplements may help muscles grow after eating and may reduce muscle breakdown during inflammation or illness, but we don’t have enough long-term evidence yet
  • What it means for you: Ketone supplements might become a useful tool for fighting muscle loss, but it’s too early to recommend them as a standard treatment. Talk to your doctor before trying them, especially if you have health conditions

The Research Details

This is a review article, which means the authors read and summarized many different scientific studies on ketone bodies and muscles. They looked at research about how ketones affect muscle protein synthesis (the process of building new muscle) and muscle protein breakdown (when muscles get smaller). The review focuses on both how ketones work in the body and what practical uses they might have for treating muscle loss in aging, disease, and recovery from injury.

The authors examined studies using different approaches: some looked at what happens in test tubes or animal models, while others studied real people taking ketone supplements. They considered both the basic science (how ketones work at the cellular level) and the practical applications (whether they actually help patients).

Understanding how ketone supplements affect muscles is important because muscle loss is a major problem that affects quality of life, independence, and health outcomes in older adults and people with chronic diseases. Current treatments are limited, so finding new approaches could help millions of people. This review brings together scattered research to see if ketones might be a promising new option worth investigating further.

This is a review article written by experts in nutrition and muscle metabolism, published in a respected medical journal. However, because it’s a summary of other studies rather than original research, its strength depends on the quality of the studies it reviews. Most evidence comes from small studies in young, healthy people, which limits how much we can apply the findings to older adults or sick patients. The authors are honest about these limitations and call for more research.

What the Results Show

The review found that when healthy young men took ketone supplements, their muscles showed increased protein synthesis after eating—essentially, their bodies built more muscle tissue. This is a positive sign because muscle protein synthesis is the main way muscles grow and repair themselves.

In situations involving inflammation or illness (when the body breaks down muscle faster than normal), ketone bodies appeared to help by reducing muscle protein breakdown. This means ketones might work in two ways: helping muscles grow while also protecting them from shrinking.

The research suggests ketones might work by activating certain cellular pathways that promote muscle building and by reducing inflammatory signals that trigger muscle loss. However, most of this evidence comes from studies in young, healthy people, so we don’t know yet if it works the same way in older adults or people with serious illnesses.

The review also noted that ketone supplements can quickly put your body into a state called ketosis (where it uses ketones for fuel instead of sugar) without requiring strict diet changes. This is different from a ketogenic diet, which requires careful food planning. Additionally, ketones appear to have anti-inflammatory effects, which could be beneficial beyond just muscle health. Some studies suggest ketones might help with brain function and energy levels, though more research is needed.

Historically, scientists thought ketones mainly helped preserve muscle during starvation by being an alternative fuel source. This new research suggests ketones might do more than just spare muscle—they might actually help build it and protect it from breakdown. This represents a shift in how scientists think about ketones and muscle health. However, most previous research on ketones focused on their effects on the brain and weight loss, so direct comparisons to muscle-specific research are limited.

The biggest limitation is that most studies have been done in young, healthy men. We don’t know if results apply to older adults, women, or people with diseases like cancer or severe infections. Most studies were also short-term, so we don’t know what happens if people take ketone supplements for months or years. Additionally, many studies were small and done in laboratory settings rather than real-world conditions. The review also notes that we still don’t fully understand all the ways ketones affect muscle at the cellular level, and more research is needed to confirm these early findings.

The Bottom Line

Based on current evidence, ketone supplements show promise but are not yet recommended as a standard treatment for muscle loss. If you’re interested in trying them, discuss it with your doctor first, especially if you have diabetes, heart disease, or kidney problems. For now, the most proven ways to prevent muscle loss remain regular strength exercise and eating enough protein. Confidence level: Low to Moderate—more research is needed before strong recommendations can be made.

This research is most relevant to older adults concerned about muscle loss, people recovering from serious illness or surgery, and athletes looking for performance enhancement. People with diabetes, kidney disease, or certain heart conditions should be cautious and consult their doctor. Healthy young people probably don’t need ketone supplements since they can build muscle through normal exercise and diet.

If ketone supplements do help, early studies suggest effects on muscle protein synthesis might appear within hours to days of taking them. However, visible changes in muscle size and strength would likely take weeks to months of consistent use, similar to the timeline for other muscle-building interventions. Long-term benefits and safety remain unknown.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track muscle-related metrics weekly: measure arm and leg circumference at the same spot each time, note your strength in specific exercises (like how many push-ups or squats you can do), and monitor your energy levels and recovery after workouts
  • If trying ketone supplements under medical supervision, use the app to log: when you take the supplement, what you eat that day, your workout intensity, and how you feel. This helps you and your doctor see if there’s a real connection between ketone use and your muscle changes
  • Set monthly check-ins to review your muscle measurements, strength progress, and overall energy. Compare your progress before and after starting supplements (if you choose to try them). Track any side effects or changes in how you feel. Share this data with your healthcare provider to make informed decisions about continuing supplementation

This article summarizes research on ketone supplements and muscle health but is not medical advice. Ketone supplements are not FDA-approved treatments for muscle loss. Before starting any supplement, especially if you have diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, or take medications, consult your doctor or registered dietitian. This review is based on early-stage research, mostly in young, healthy people—results may not apply to everyone. Do not replace proven treatments like exercise and proper nutrition with supplements without medical guidance. Individual results vary, and long-term safety data is limited.