Does Mark Hyman recommend Exogenous Ketones?
Yes — Mark Hyman has directly recommended Exogenous Ketones.
Published research rates it weak evidence. Of Mark Hyman's 18 tracked claims, 0 are supported or partially supported by studies on PubMed.
Evidence last reviewed May 2026
Mark Hyman on Exogenous Ketones — 18 claims
“you have a critical energy gap that you need to change you need to address that Gap and the best way to do it of course is with ketosis”
Ketosis (and ketones) is the best way to address the critical energy gap in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease.
“you have a critical energy gap that you need to change you need to address that Gap and the best way to do it of course is with ketosis”
Ketosis (and ketones) is the best way to address the critical energy gap in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease.
“typically we don't recommend for example coconut oil MCT oil we recommend if you want to take some want to get into ketosis exogenously just take some exogenous Ketone take Ketone salts take Ketone Esters those sorts of things you can do that a couple of times a day and get nice spikes in your Ketone levels”
For individuals who are APOE4 positive, MCT oil and coconut oil are not recommended; instead, exogenous ketone salts or ketone esters are recommended to achieve ketosis, taken a couple of times a day for nice spikes in ketone levels.
“we encourage people to measure their ketones whether you like to do it by finger stick or you can do it by breathalizer to get in the appropriate Ketone range”
Patients are encouraged to measure their ketones (via finger stick or breathalyzer) to confirm they are in the appropriate ketone range.
“because getting into ketosis is so critical for supporting brain energetics we tell them just start by taking some exogenous ketones do it for a couple of months no problem because we need to get that energy up”
Taking exogenous ketones as a supplement for a couple of months can support brain energetics, particularly for those who find it difficult to achieve ketosis through diet alone (e.g., vegans or vegetarians).
“because getting into ketosis is so critical for supporting brain energetics we tell them just start by taking some exogenous ketones do it for a couple of months no problem because we need to get that energy up”
Taking exogenous ketones as a supplement for a couple of months can support brain energetics, particularly for those who find it difficult to achieve ketosis through diet alone (e.g., vegans or vegetarians).
“typically we don't recommend for example coconut oil MCT oil we recommend if you want to take some want to get into ketosis exogenously just take some exogenous Ketone take Ketone salts take Ketone Esters those sorts of things you can do that a couple of times a day and get nice spikes in your Ketone levels”
For individuals who are APOE4 positive, MCT oil and coconut oil are not recommended; instead, exogenous ketone salts or ketone esters are recommended to achieve ketosis, taken a couple of times a day for nice spikes in ketone levels.
“we encourage people to measure their ketones whether you like to do it by finger stick or you can do it by breathalizer to get in the appropriate Ketone range”
Patients are encouraged to measure their ketones (via finger stick or breathalyzer) to confirm they are in the appropriate ketone range.
“Steven canine showed years ago you can ramp those ketones up to 1 two three Millar beta hydroxy butyrate and you can you can address that energy gap”
Research by Steven Cunnane showed that ramping ketones up to 1–2–3 mM beta-hydroxybutyrate can address the brain's critical energy gap seen in Alzheimer's disease.
“Steven canine showed years ago you can ramp those ketones up to 1 two three Millar beta hydroxy butyrate and you can you can address that energy gap”
Research by Steven Cunnane showed that ramping ketones up to 1–2–3 mM beta-hydroxybutyrate can address the brain's critical energy gap seen in Alzheimer's disease.
“the third area is energetics and that's oxygenation blood flow mitochondria and ketones the ability to have a substrate to burn”
Ketones are one of four critical areas for brain energetics, serving as a substrate the brain can burn.
“sugar damages your ability to support your synapsis so you got to address with ketones you got to address the energy you've got to address the insulin sensitivity”
Sugar damages the ability to support synapses, so ketones must be used to address brain energy in Alzheimer's.
“when we used to grow the neurons basically using a ketogenic diet you can increase the way the brain uses energy and make it basically have more energy by feeding it fat instead of sugar and carbs”
Feeding the brain fat instead of sugar and carbs via a ketogenic diet can increase brain energy utilization and give it more energy.
“the third area is energetics and that's oxygenation blood flow mitochondria and ketones the ability to have a substrate to burn”
Ketones are one of four critical areas for brain energetics, serving as a substrate the brain can burn.
“when you have cognitive decline you've lost both of those so you are literally starving your brain you've lost the glucose because you now have insulin resistance you've lost the ketones because your insulin is high and it's preventing you from making the ketones”
In cognitive decline, the brain loses the ability to burn both glucose and ketones, effectively starving the brain; high insulin levels prevent endogenous ketone production.
“when we used to grow the neurons basically using a ketogenic diet you can increase the way the brain uses energy and make it basically have more energy by feeding it fat instead of sugar and carbs”
Feeding the brain fat instead of sugar and carbs via a ketogenic diet can increase brain energy utilization and give it more energy.
“sugar damages your ability to support your synapsis so you got to address with ketones you got to address the energy you've got to address the insulin sensitivity”
Sugar damages the ability to support synapses, so ketones must be used to address brain energy in Alzheimer's.
“when you have cognitive decline you've lost both of those so you are literally starving your brain you've lost the glucose because you now have insulin resistance you've lost the ketones because your insulin is high and it's preventing you from making the ketones”
In cognitive decline, the brain loses the ability to burn both glucose and ketones, effectively starving the brain; high insulin levels prevent endogenous ketone production.
Other supplements Mark Hyman discusses
Claims are extracted from publicly available podcasts and videos, attributed to their source, and compared against PubMed research. This is educational information only — consult a healthcare provider before starting any supplement.
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