:β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is a ketone body that serves as an alternative energy source
for various tissues, including the brain, heart, and skeletal muscle. As a metabolic intermediate
and signaling molecule, BHB plays a crucial role in modulating cellular and physiological processes.
Notably, BHB supplementation offers a novel and promising strategy to induce nutritional ketosis
without the need for strict dietary adherence or causing nutritional deficiencies. This review article
provides an overview of BHB metabolism and explores its applications in age-related diseases.
This review conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, and other relevant
English-language articles. The main findings were synthesized, and discussed the challenges, limitations,
and future directions of BHB supplementation. BHB supplementation holds potential benefits
for various diseases and conditions, including neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases,
cancers, and inflammation. BHB acts through multiple mechanisms, including interactions
with cell surface receptors, intracellular enzymes, transcription factors, signaling molecules, and
epigenetic modifications. Despite its promise, BHB supplementation faces several challenges,
such as determining the optimal dosage, ensuring long-term safety, identifying the most effective
type and formulation, establishing biomarkers of response, and conducting cost-effectiveness analyses.
BHB supplementation opens exciting avenues for research, including investigating molecular
mechanisms, refining optimization strategies, exploring innovation opportunities, and assessing
healthspan and lifespan benefits. BHB supplementation represents a new frontier in health research,
offering a potential pathway to enhance well-being and extend lifespan.