7-Keto (7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone-acetate) is a metabolite of DHEA, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It has garnered interest for its potential role in supporting metabolism and mitochondrial function. The rationale for its use in mitochondrial support stems from preclinical research suggesting that 7-Keto may enhance thermogenesis and energy expenditure by upregulating enzymes involved in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. Some small clinical studies have demonstrated that 7-Keto supplementation can increase metabolic rate in overweight adults without affecting heart rate or blood pressure, implying an effect on cellular energy processes, which are largely mitochondrial.

However, direct clinical evidence specifically linking 7-Keto to improved mitochondrial health or function in humans is limited. Most available studies focus on weight loss and metabolic rate rather than direct measures of mitochondrial biogenesis or efficiency. Animal studies provide some mechanistic insights, showing increased activity of mitochondrial enzymes, but these findings have not been robustly confirmed in human trials.

In summary, while there is some scientific rationale and limited evidence that 7-Keto may support processes associated with mitochondrial function, the clinical evidence in humans is modest and indirect. It is not a traditional remedy, and its use for "mitochondrial support" relies on extrapolation from metabolic effects rather than direct mitochondrial outcomes.