The Chemistry of the Ketogenic Diet: Updates and Opportunities in Organic Synthesis

The high-fat, low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diet has grown in popularity in the last decade as a weight loss tool. Research into the diet's effects on the body have revealed a variety of other health benefits. The use of exogenous ketone supplements to confer the benefits of the diet without strict adherence to it represents an exciting new area of focus. Synthetic ketogenic compounds are of particular interest that has received very little emphasis and is an untapped area of focus for chemical synthesis. In this review, we summarize the chemical basis for ketogenicity and opportunities for further advancement of the field.

Automated summary

The high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet has gained popularity as a weight loss tool and research has shown it has various health benefits. The use of exogenous ketone supplements to achieve the benefits without strict adherence to the diet is a new focus, along with synthetic ketogenic compounds being an underexplored area for chemical synthesis. This review summarizes the chemical basis for ketogenesis and opportunities for further advancement in the field.