Dr. Oz creates raspberry ketones frenzy

Dr. Oz deemed raspberry ketones to be a fat burning natural ingredient.

Sandy Almendarez, VP of Content

April 11, 2012

3 Min Read
Dr. Oz creates raspberry ketones frenzy

OK, Dr. Oz. We forgive you for that whole "Who's spiking our supplements?" segment, as long as you keep telling consumers to buy our natural products.

Well, not exactly, but I'm sure manufactures of supplements made with raspberry ketones are Dr. Oz's new biggest fans. In a segment, "Raspberry Ketone: Miracle Fat-Burner in a Bottle," in February, Dr. Oz called the natural ingredient "the number one miracle to burn your body fat."

He said raspberry ketone supplements can burn fat all over the body, are safe, are healthy and have no side effects. He explained that the compound regulates the hormone adiponectin, which "tricks your body into thinking it's skinny," i.e., boosts metabolism. He recommended supplementation, as he said tp get the effective dose of 100 mg/d of raspberry ketones, one would need to eat 90 pounds of raspberries.

During the segment, he featured personal trainer and weight-loss expert Lisa Lynn, who also has her own line of dietary supplements, LynFit Nutrition supplements. (One of her supplements contains raspberry ketones.) On the segment, Lynn said raspberry ketones "slice [fat] up inside the cell, which makes fat loss easier." Results can be seen in as little as five days, she said, but the longer one supplements, the greater the effects.

At the end of the segment, Lynn cautioned consumers to their homework and buy good quality. Dr. Oz added, "I don't want to over promise." He said people shouldnt use it as a miracle cure (despite the segment's title), and that his viewers should also eat healthy and exercise.

Lynn said supplements are available online and at health food stores for $12. But that was before the segment. Now, the supplements at many stores have sold out, and they're difficult to find. An article from ABC News describes a scene at a GNC store as it sold out its last batch of raspberry ketone supplements.

The science on raspberry ketones doesn't call raspberry ketones a "miracle in a bottle" like Dr. Oz, but studies do suggest it's beneficial to weight loss. In October 2010, a study from the Korea FDA said raspberry ketones prevented high-fat diet-induced elevation in body weight and increased fat burning in male mice (Planta Med. 2010 Oct;76(15):1654-8). That study also noted an in vitro immunoassay showed 10 µM of raspberry ketone increased fatty acid oxidation and suppressed lipid accumulation. And a 2005 study from Japan, also performed on rats, concluded raspberry ketones prevented and reduced obesity and fatty liver by  increasing fat metabolism, or more specifically, by increasing the hormone norepinephrinem, which induces fat burning (Life Sci. 2005 May 27;77(2):194-204).

I reached out to several raspberry ingredient suppliers, but all that got back to me said they did not supply ketones specifically, but one said it was about to enter the raspberry ketone market. I asked if this had to do with the Dr. Oz mention, but the company rep did not respond to my questions. I can only guess that the increased demand, spurred on by Dr. Oz, has caused this company to start selling the now in-demand ingredient.

Does your company sell raspberry ketones? If so, I bet you're sold out, and could use some advice on navigating sales. Or, perhaps you have the next unknown ingredient in stock and want to be ready the next time Dr. Oz praises it. Check out this INSIDER slide show, "Overcoming the Dr. Oz Effect" for advice on what to do when heor another health gurucreates the next ingredient craze.

About the Author

Sandy Almendarez

VP of Content, Informa

Summary

• Well-known subject matter expert within the health & nutrition industry with more than 15 years’ experience reporting on natural products.

• She cares a lot about how healthy products are made, where their ingredients are sourced and how they affect human health.

• She knows that it’s the people behind the businesses — their motivations, feelings and emotions — drive industry growth, so that’s where she looks for content opportunities.

Sandy Almendarez is VP of Content for SupplySide and an award-winning journalist. She oversees the editorial and content marketing teams for the B2B media brands SupplySide Supplement Journal and SupplySide Food & Beverage Journal, the education programming for the health and nutrition trade shows SupplySide Connect New Jersey and SupplySide West, the education program SupplySide Fresh for industry newcomers and community engagement across the SupplySide portfolio. She is a seasoned content strategist with a passion for health, good nutrition, sustainability and inclusion. With over 15 years of experience in the health and nutrition industry, Sandy brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as a content-focused business leader. With specialization in topics ranging from product development to content engagement, creative marketing and c-suite decision making, her work is known for its engaging style and its relevance for business leaders in the health and nutrition industry.

In her free time, Sandy loves running, drinking hot tea and watching her two kids grow up. She brews her own “Sandbucha” homemade kombucha; she’s happy to share if you’re ever in Phoenix!

Awards:

Speaker credentials

Resides in

  • Phoenix, AZ

Education

  • Arizona State University

Contact:

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