Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to ketosis.
Prüvit is a keto brand that sells what they call “therapeutic” ketones. The brand claims that their product line “supports healthy cell function,” “rapidly repairs DNA,” “supports healthy immune function,” and more.
But does taking exogenous ketones actually promote better health? Does the brand use any unhealthy ingredients? Why was this company sued multiple times? And can Prüvit support ketosis?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Prüvit to give our take on whether the brand's popular KETO//OS NAT supplement can improve health, and whether or not it's safe.
We'll also highlight two lawsuits filed against Prüvit, analyze whether or not ketosis is healthy for the average individual, and compare Prüvit to other popular keto supplements like Keto Chow to pick our winners (and losers).
Key takeaways:
- Keto diet may be therapeutic for some health conditions
- Prüvit was sued over lead levels and flavoring ingredients
- We do not currently recommend Prüvit Ketones
Ingredient Analysis
The vitamin and mineral ingredients in Pruvit KETO//OS NAT (short for Nutritionally Advanced Technology) are shown below:
image source: https://pruvit.com
Sodium is included at a high dose of 850 milligrams (mg).
That’s over 33% of the total daily intake recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Individuals on a keto diet may require higher sodium intake than those on a Standard American diet, but it would be best to speak with a doctor or nutritionist about that.
Calcium, magnesium and two B-vitamins are included in this blend and we're unsure why.
We haven't come across any evidence that these nutrients promote ketosis, and KETO//OS NAT is branded as a keto supplement and not a multivitamin.
The ingredients in the N8 Max NAT keto-promoting blend are shown below:
image source: https://pruvit.com
R-beta-hydroxybutyrate is clinically shown to promote ketosis.
A clinical trial published in the Frontiers in Nutrition journal found that a 14,100 mg dose of d-beta-hydroxybutyrate (a similar ketone) was effective for inducing ketosis in the body, but the average ingredient dose in this blend is only 3,150 mg.
L-taurine was shown in a 2022 clinical trial to have synergistic health effects when consumed with ketone salts.
Athletes taking ketones and taurine together experienced improved exercise performance.
Fermented l-leucine is the third active ingredient in this blend, but we cannot find any clinical evidence that it supports ketosis or improves health generally.
A 2018 medical review found that this ingredient did not cause or negate ketosis.
C-Med 100 is a trademarked botanical extract that was shown in a clinical trial published in the Phytotherapy Research journal to promote DNA repair.
This compound was also shown to have an anti-cancer effect in a 2003 clinical trial.
The inactive ingredients in Prüvit's supplement are shown below:
image source: https://pruvit.com
Erythritol was shown to increase blood clotting and to be associated with increased risk of stroke in a medical review published in the Nature Medicine journal.
Caffeine is listed as an inactive ingredient, which we strongly disagree with.
Caffeine is clinically shown to be a central nervous system stimulant, and we've never before seen this ingredient listed as inactive in any of our hundreds of supplement reviews on Illuminate Health.
Failing to publish the specific caffeine dose may be unsafe for consumers, because caffeine can cause side effects such as anxiety and heart palpitations at high doses, according to a 1985 population study.
Citric acid is a preservative and flavor enhancer that can cause inflammation, as we documented in our Gatorlyte review article.
Natural flavor is a healthier option than artificial flavor in our opinion, but some flavoring additives may cause toxic effects according to a medical review published in the Toxicology Research journal.
Overall, we consider KETO//OS potentially effective for promoting ketosis, because it contains some research-backed active ingredients.
We do not currently recommend Pruvit Ketones due to the inactive ingredients highlighted above.
Is Ketosis Even Healthy?
Ketosis is the state of burning fat instead of glucose for energy.
This can be achieved by adhering to a very-low-carb diet (typically less than 50 or so grams of carbs daily), or by consuming exogenous ketones like the one included in KETO//OS.
A clinical trial from 2017 showed that drinking ketones causes the body to enter a state of ketosis. The study authors stated the following:
“We conclude that exogenous ketone drinks are a practical, efficacious way to achieve ketosis.”
A medical review published in the Cureus journal reported that the keto diet may have beneficial effects for individuals with high blood pressure or diabetes over short time periods (under one year).
However, the researchers also noted that the diet may increase cardiovascular risks over time due to its unfavorable effects on cholesterol levels.
The study authors of a 2020 medical review suggested that the keto diet may cause weight loss in overweight individuals over short time periods, but that there was no evidence of long-term benefit.
Our takeaway is two-fold:
- We haven't seen any convincing evidence that otherwise healthy individuals benefit from being in ketosis
- The potential benefits of ketosis in individuals with health conditions like high blood pressure or obesity appear to be short-term
Given this information, we consider the entire value proposition behind KETO//OS to be questionable.
Why Was Prüvit Sued?
There is an ongoing lawsuit against Prüvit initiated by an organization called the Environmental Research Center.
This non-profit alleged that Prüvit contains levels of lead in their products that were higher than California’s Prop 65 benchmark.
While this lawsuit may be notable to consumers, it's not particularly actionable without the actual lead levels. Unfortunately, due to environmental pollution, there is some level of lead in drinking water and many food products and supplements.
Without knowing the actual lead levels, it's hard to make an informed decision one way or another.
According to the "Behind MLM" website, Prüvit is also facing a class action lawsuit over alleged use of petrochemical-derived flavoring, while claiming their products contain no artificial flavors.
This isn't the extent of Prüvit's legal and regulatory issues.
In 2020, the company received a warning letter from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) because some of their affiliates were making claims that the products cured COVID.
Prüvit Ketones vs. Popular Keto Supps
Here's how Prüvit compares to other popular keto supplement brands in terms of formulation quality, in our opinion:
Keto Chow
This brand sells an electrolyte supplement without any unhealthy additives, and keto dieters are show in research studies to often have electrolyte imbalances.
We consider the formulations sold by this brand to be healthier than those from Prüvit.
Winner: Keto Chow
Konscious Keto
Konscious Keto's most popular supplement (Emma) contains research-backed ingredients for gut health, as we documented in our Konscious Keto reviews article.
While this supplement is unlikely to support ketosis, it's free of the unhealthy inactive ingredients in Prüvit KETO//OS NAT, so we give Konscious Keto the advantage from a health perspective.
Winner: Konscious Keto
Keto Luxe Gummies
This is a low-quality formulation unlikely to support ketosis, but it's free of erythritol, and contains no ingredients we consider acutely dangerous.
Keto Luxe Gummies are the winner from a health and safety perspective.
Winner: Keto Luxe Gummies
Prüvit Ketones Pros and Cons
Pros:
- May support ketosis
- Contains some research-backed active ingredients
- Potentially beneficial for hypertension (short-term)
- Potentially beneficial for diabetes (short-term)
Cons:
- Doesn't appear clinically tested
- Contains flavoring additives
- Contains citric acid
- Contains erythritol
- Brand is being sued by multiple organizations
- Brand received warning letter from FTC related to COVID-19 claims
- Unclear whether this helps healthy people
- Brand fails to clearly publish caffeine dose
- Contains added vitamin and mineral blend
- Less healthy than competitors
