Caffeine-Free Energy Shot or MAC Energy? Two Ways to Use goBHB

I drink caffeine. Most of the people I work with in this industry do too. But the most common message I get about energy products is some version of “I want something for 3 PM that won’t keep me up at midnight.” That is the whole reason a caffeine-free energy shot built on goBHB® exists. goBHB also goes into caffeinated drinks like MAC Energy, which is a different use case.

These two products use the same ingredient in very different ways. Below I’ll break down what’s in each one, what the research on BHB and mental energy shows (and doesn’t), and how I decide which one to reach for.

The CleanForm goBHB Energy Shot: zero caffeine, zero sugar, 2 oz.

Two goBHB Energy Products, Two Different Jobs

The CleanForm goBHB Energy Shot is a 2 oz shot with L-goBHB and no caffeine or sugar. MAC Energy is a 12 oz can with 2,000 mg of goBHB, 200 mg of caffeine and 250 mg of Cognizin® citicoline. One is built to give you ketones without a stimulant. The other pairs ketones with a moderate dose of caffeine.

Per servinggoBHB Energy ShotMAC EnergySize2 oz shot12 oz canBHBL-goBHB (amount not listed)2,000 mg goBHBCaffeine0 mg200 mg (Purcaf®)Other activesNone listed250 mg Cognizin, B vitaminsSugarZeroZeroPrice on brand site$29.99 per 6-pack$29.99 per 12-pack

Caffeine per serving vs. the FDA daily reference

Milligrams of caffeine. FDA cites 400 mg a day as an amount not generally linked to negative effects in most healthy adults.

goBHB Energy Shot0 mgMAC Energy (1 can)200 mgFDA daily reference for most adults400 mg

Sources: drinkmac.com, cleanformnutrition.com, FDA consumer update on caffeine.

What’s in the goBHB Energy Shot

Blue Raspberry, Sour Apple and Wild Berry, sold in 6-packs.

CleanForm Nutrition built this shot around L-goBHB, with zero caffeine and zero sugar, in Blue Raspberry, Wild Berry and Sour Apple. It is $29.99 for a 6-pack on CleanForm’s site. Nutritional Outlook reported in July that it is TruShield Certified, meaning it was tested for more than 480 banned substances. For drug-tested athletes that matters as much as the formula.

The label does not list how much L-goBHB is in each shot, so I can’t line it up dose for dose with a study. I’d like to see that number on the box. I’ll also be straight about the form: most published human BHB research used D-BHB or D/L salts, so L-BHB has less data behind it. If you want the background on the two forms, read L-BHB vs D-BHB.

What’s in MAC Energy

MAC Energy: Forbidden Green Apple, Orange Creamsicle, Proper Punch and Macberry Lychee.

Conor McGregor’s MAC Energy has 2,000 mg of goBHB, 200 mg of caffeine from Purcaf, and 250 mg of Cognizin citicoline per 12 oz can, with zero sugar. It is $29.99 for a 12-pack on drinkmac.com and is also on Amazon, TikTok Shop and in 7-Eleven stores. That 200 mg is half of the 400 mg a day the FDA cites for most healthy adults.

Why put BHB next to caffeine at all? Our lab ran a cell study on that exact question. In human neurons, caffeine washout raised adenosine, which builds up as caffeine wears off, about 4.5 times, and BHB reduced it by about 58%. That was unpublished cell research, not a human trial, and I covered the limits in our caffeine crash study post.

What the Research Says About BHB and Mental Energy

The broadest look is a 2026 meta-analysis in Frontiers in Nutrition (Bonnechère et al.) that pooled 29 trial protocols and 1,117 people. Exogenous ketones improved cognitive performance compared with placebo (standardized effect 0.29, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.41), which the authors call modest. Some authors are affiliated with Component Health Ltd. One limit: only two of the 38 studies reviewed used BHB salts, and most used MCT oil or ketone esters. I went through it in Ketones and Cognition.

Longer use: a 14-day trial

Walsh and colleagues (Journal of Physiology, 2021) gave 14 adults with obesity 12 grams of BHB from a ketone monoester three times a day for 14 days in a double-blind crossover. Scores on a processing-speed test (digit-symbol substitution) rose by 2.7 correct responses, and blood flow in neck arteries feeding the brain went up 11 to 12%. That was a ketone ester at a much higher dose than any shot, so read it as proof of concept.

L-BHB and reaction time: an early signal

A study from Nova Southeastern University (Jiannine, Holen and Antonio, 2026) tested a low 2 g dose of D-BHB or L-BHB against placebo in 136 fasted young adults and measured attention 60 minutes later. The L-BHB group was faster than placebo on reaction time in one comparison, and both BHB groups had fewer attention lapses than placebo. There were no significant time or group-by-time effects, and the abstract doesn’t give the product form or funding, so I’m calling it a signal and nothing more.

When a Caffeine-Free Energy Shot Makes More Sense

Timing is the simplest reason. The FDA lists insomnia and sleep disruption among signs of too much caffeine, and people clear it at very different speeds. If your slump hits mid-afternoon or you train at night, a shot with no stimulant takes that risk off the table. On the sleep side, a 2025 Japanese trial (Katsuya et al.) gave 90 healthy adults with fatigue and poor sleep scores 1.5 or 2.9 g of D-BHB an hour before bed for 14 days. Both doses reduced sleepiness on waking, with no change in sleep length. That study used D-BHB, was funded by Osaka Gas (which makes it) and relied on self-reported scales, so it doesn’t apply directly to an L-goBHB shot.

The second reason is caffeine sensitivity. If 200 mg gives you jitters or a racing heart, the shot is the easier fit. If you are pregnant or take medication, talk to your doctor before using either product. If you already handle caffeine well and want a stronger lift for a morning workout, MAC Energy makes sense. Don’t stack MAC with three coffees.

Where the Evidence Stands

The case for BHB plus caffeine rests on our unpublished cell work, so it is early. The case for BHB on its own rests on a meta-analysis showing small cognitive gains from ketones in general (mostly MCT and esters), a 14-day ester trial, and an early L-BHB reaction-time abstract. Neither product has been tested head to head in a published human trial. These products are for energy and focus support. None of these products are meant to treat or prevent any disease.

FAQ

Is BHB a stimulant?

No. BHB is a ketone body your body makes during fasting and can use as fuel. Caffeine works mainly by blocking adenosine receptors, and BHB isn’t classed as a stimulant, so a BHB shot without caffeine isn’t a stimulant drink.

Can I take a caffeine-free energy shot at night?

Evening use is a common reason to pick one. There is no caffeine in the goBHB Energy Shot, so the usual caffeine sleep concern doesn’t apply. There’s no published sleep data on L-BHB specifically, so try one in the early evening first and see how you feel.

How much goBHB is in the goBHB Energy Shot?

CleanForm doesn’t list the amount of L-goBHB per shot on its product page. MAC Energy lists 2,000 mg per can. If dose matters to you, check the box or ask the brand directly.

Can I drink MAC Energy and the goBHB Energy Shot on the same day?

Most healthy adults can, as long as total caffeine stays reasonable. One option is MAC in the morning and the shot in the afternoon. If you have a heart condition, blood pressure concerns or take medication, ask your doctor first.

The Bottom Line

MAC Energy is goBHB plus a moderate hit of caffeine for people who already like caffeine. The CleanForm goBHB Energy Shot is the caffeine-free option for afternoons, evenings and anyone who wants to cut back. The research on BHB and mental energy is promising but still early, so pick based on your caffeine tolerance and your schedule. For every format on the market, see goBHB Products You Can Buy Right Now.

Sources: Bonnechère B, et al. The effect of exogenous ketone bodies on cognition across health and disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Nutr. 2026;13. Walsh JJ, et al. Short-term ketone monoester supplementation improves cerebral blood flow and cognition in obesity. J Physiol. 2021;599(21):4763-4778. Katsuya S, et al. Effect of d-β-hydroxybutyrate on sleep quality in healthy participants. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2025;89(5):769-775 (funded by Osaka Gas). Jiannine L, Holen C, Antonio J. Acute Effects of D- and L-Beta-Hydroxybutyrate on Vigilance in Healthy Adults. J Exerc Physiol Online. 2026;29(1). Nutritional Outlook: TruShield certifies CleanForm goBHB Energy Shots (July 2026). FDA: Spilling the Beans, How Much Caffeine Is Too Much. Product details from CleanForm goBHB Energy Shot and drinkmac.com.