Method of improving flavor of a composition of (D)-beta-hydroxybutyric acid and (D)-1,3 butanediol and use as a nutritional supplement and therapeutic agent

1. A method of improving the flavor of a composition, the method comprising mixing a) with b):

a) 25% to 85% by weight of (D)-(β-hydroxybutyric acid;

b) 15% to 75% by weight (D)-1,3 butanediol, wherein the flavor of the composition is improved over an equivalent weight of either (D)-β-hydroxybutyrate or (D)-1,3 butanediol alone and over salts and esters thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a) is 55% to 45% and b) is 45 to 55% of the composition by weight.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a) is 65% to 35% and b) is 35 to 65% of the composition by weight.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a) is 70% to 30% and b) is 30 to 70% of the composition by weight.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a) and b) are in a molar ratio of 7:3 to 3:7 or 4:6 to 6:4.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising (D)-β-hydroxybutyric acid, (D)-(β-hydroxyvaleric acid, and (D)-1,3 butanediol in a molar ratio range of 3 to 7:0.01 to 1:7 to 3 or 4 to 6:0.1 to 0.8:6 to 5.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising 30% to 65% by weight of a mixture of (D)-β-hydroxybutyric acid and (D)-β-hydroxyvaleric acid and 35% to 70% by weight of (D)-1,3 butanediol.

8. The method of claim 1 , comprising 30% to 65% by weight of (D)-β-hydroxybutyric acid, 5% to 26% by weight of (D)-β-hydroxyvaleric acid, and 9% to 65% by weight of (D)-1,3 butanediol.

9. The method of claim 1 , comprising 40% to 60% by weight of (D)-β-hydroxybutyric acid, 1% to 15% by weight of (D)-β-hydroxyvaleric acid, and 25% to 59% by weight of (D)-1,3 butanediol.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is free of salts of (D)-β-hydroxybutyric acid.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is free of esters of (D)-β-hydroxybutyric acid and (D)-1,3 butanediol.

12. A method of providing one or more beverages or food products having improved flavor and tolerability for elevating circulating ketone levels in a human subject by at least 0.5 mM comprising:

preparing one or more beverages or food products comprising at least 5 grams per serving of (D)-β-hydroxybutyric acid and (D)-1,3 butanediol in a molar ratio range of 3 to 7 to 7 to 3 of the (D)-β-hydroxybutyric acid to (D)-1,3 butanediol.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein each of the one or more beverages or food products comprises (D)-β-hydroxybutyric acid and (D)-1,3 butanediol in a molar ratio range of 4:6 to 6:4.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more beverages or food products comprise 40% to 60% by weight of (D)-β-hydroxybutyric acid and 60% to 40% by weight of (D)-1,3 butanediol.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein each of the one or more beverages or food products comprises 3 to 7 grams of (D)-β-hydroxybutyric acid and 0.5 to 8 grams of (D)-1,3 butanediol and 100 to 250 grams of a consumable carrier, per serving.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein each of the one or more beverages or food products comprises water or carbonated water, a flavoring agent, and a sweetener.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the sweetener is a sugar alcohol, stevia , allulose, monk fruit, or a combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein each of the one or more beverages or food products comprise 45% to 55% by weight of (D)-β-hydroxybutyric acid and 55% to 45% by weight of (D)-1,3 butanediol.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein each of the one or more beverages or food products comprises said mixture in a molar ratio of 1:8 to 11 to water or carbonated water.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein each of the one or more beverages or food products comprises the mixture in a molar ratio of 1:0.05 to 0.12 to a flavoring agent.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein each of the one or more beverages or food products comprises the mixture in a molar ratio of 1:0.6 to 1.2 to a sweetener selected from a sugar alcohol, stevia , allulose, monk fruit, or a combination thereof.