Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB salts)
Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB salts) suppliers and sourcing guide
Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB, 3-hydroxybutyrate) is a short-chain hydroxy acid. BHB salts are made by neutralizing beta-hydroxybutyric acid, produced by chemical synthesis or fermentation, with sodium, potassium, calcium or magnesium, then drying the salt to a powder. Most traded material is racemic (DL) BHB; the D-form is offered separately. Brands buy single salts or mixed-mineral blends for drink mixes and capsules.
- Category
- Specialty nutrients
- Also known as
- 3-hydroxybutyrate salts · BHB mineral salts · sodium beta-hydroxybutyrate · calcium beta-hydroxybutyrate · magnesium beta-hydroxybutyrate
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb salts)
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Sodium BHB
Single salt, very soluble; adds sodium to the label.
Calcium and magnesium BHB
Single salts used to spread the mineral load across a blend.
Potassium BHB
Single salt, often combined with the others in mixed-mineral blends.
Racemic (DL) or D-BHB
Racemic material is the common grade; D-BHB is a separate, higher-cost grade, and the isomer should be on the specification.
Mixed-mineral blends
Premixed sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium BHB at a stated ratio.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- BHB assay (HPLC or titration)
- BHB content as the free acid, with the mineral counter-ion reported, by HPLC or titration.
- Isomer ratio
- D- and L-BHB by chiral HPLC, to confirm racemic or D-only material.
- Mineral content
- Sodium, potassium, calcium or magnesium by ICP-OES, which feeds the nutrition label.
- Loss on drying
- Moisture; BHB salts are hygroscopic and cake.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS, checked against the supplier specification and the buyer's own limits.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms or E. coli, and Salmonella, against the supplier specification.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store sealed in moisture-barrier packaging in a cool, dry place; BHB salts pick up moisture quickly and cake hard. Reseal opened bags right away and keep blending rooms dry. Shelf life and retest come from the supplier's specification.
Lots and expiry dates
Record BHB assay, mineral content and isomer grade for each lot, since mineral amounts on the label depend on them. Check moisture on receipt and rotate first-expiry-first-out.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
The EU Novel Food Catalogue entry POL-NF-00702, for the sodium, magnesium and calcium salts of 3-hydroxybutyrate, gives them the status not yet authorised novel food.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)GRN 1032, for D-beta-hydroxybutyrate notified by Osaka Gas Chemicals Co. Ltd. for use at up to 6 g per serving in sports and nutritional beverages, bars and gels, closed on June 2, 2022 with FDA having no questions; it covers that notifier's substance, not BHB salts in general.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB salts) suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb salts) suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb salts)? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb salts) can brands buy?
Common forms include sodium BHB, calcium and magnesium BHB, potassium BHB, racemic (DL) or D-BHB and mixed-mineral blends. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb salts) include?
Expect bHB assay (HPLC or titration), isomer ratio, mineral content, loss on drying, heavy metals and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb salts) be stored?
Store sealed in moisture-barrier packaging in a cool, dry place; BHB salts pick up moisture quickly and cake hard. Reseal opened bags right away and keep blending rooms dry. Shelf life and retest come from the supplier's specification.
What is the regulatory status of beta-hydroxybutyrate (bhb salts)?
The EU Novel Food Catalogue entry POL-NF-00702, for the sodium, magnesium and calcium salts of 3-hydroxybutyrate, gives them the status not yet authorised novel food. GRN 1032, for D-beta-hydroxybutyrate notified by Osaka Gas Chemicals Co. Ltd. for use at up to 6 g per serving in sports and nutritional beverages, bars and gels, closed on June 2, 2022 with FDA having no questions; it covers that notifier's substance, not BHB salts in general.
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