Abstract: The subject disclosure provides compositions for reducing serum cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels in subjects. These compositions can comprise racemic ?-hydroxybutyrate or D-?-hydroxybutyrate, optionally in the acid form, physiologically compatible salts of racemic ?-hydroxybutyrate or D-?-hydroxybutyrate, esters of D-?-hydroxybutyrate, oligomers of D-?-hydroxybutyrate containing from 2 to 20 or more monomeric units in either linear or cyclic form, racemic 1,3 butandiol or R-1,3 butandiol alone and can be, optionally, administered in conjunction with a low fat diet to a subject.