Ketogenic compositions including a non-racemic mixture of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) enriched with the R-enantiomer are formulated to increase ketone body level in a subject. The non-racemic mixture of BHB is enriched with the R-enantiomer to elevate ketone bodies and increase the rate at which ketosis is achieved yet contains an amount of the S-enantiomer sufficient to provide alternative benefits as discussed herein. In some aspects a composition for increasing ketone body level in a subject contains a dietetically or pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a non-racemic mixture of R-beta-hydroxybutyrate and S-beta-hydroxybutyrate, wherein the non-racemic mixture of R-beta-hydroxybutyrate and S-beta-hydroxybutyrate contains from about 55% to 98% by enantiomeric equivalents of the R-beta-hydroxybutyrate and from about 45% to about 2% by enantiomeric equivalents of S-beta-hydroxybutyrate enantiomer.
