The large categories of disease for which ketones may have therapeutic effects are:
(1) diseases of substrate insufficiency or insulin resistance,
(2) diseases resulting from free radical damage,
(3) disease resulting from hypoxia.
Why physicians have been taught to fear ketosis
Anticonvulsant action of the ketogenig diet
HYPOTHESES:
Ketogenic diet reduces seizures by:
a) promoting inhibitory action of GABA
b) reducing cellular consequences of energy deficiency by supplying an alternative and 40 % more efficient fuel
c) eliminating damaging consequences of excessive glycolysis
Question: what does work in this case — ketone bodies or glycolysis exclusion?
Is ketosis natural?
“Repeat after me three times, ketones are not evil, ketones are not evil, ketones are not evil… OK, now that we have gotten that out of the way…”
– Jeffrey Paul Krabb, MD
In general medical literature, ketosis is often defined as abnormally high levels of ketone bodies in the blood.
Meanwhile, ketosis — but not ketoacidosis! — naturally occurs:
- Every morning after the night fast
- During fasting and calorie restriction
- After intensive prolonged exercise
- As a result of a diet significantly higher in fat comparing tha in carbohydrates
- Early in ontogenesis
Major sources of energy for the brain
The use of energy substrates by the brain depend on species, age, and physiological conditions
Exceptional energy demands of the brain and energy substrates
- In addition to glucose, other substrates must be considered along with fuel interactions, metabolic challenges, and cerebral maturation. (1)
- Ketone bodies are major metabolic fuels of the brain of the suckling rat under normal conditions. (2)
- Ketone bodies can represent about 30–70% of the total energy metabolism balance of the immature rat brain.(3)
- Lactate is an important metabolic substrate for the brain…and plays a crucial role in brain development… Once the onset of suckling takes place, however, ketone bodies become the major fuel for brain development.(4)
- 70% of the cerebral metabolic requirements were met by lactate in animals aged 6 days. At 15 days of age, glucose, 3-hydroxybutyrate, and lactate supply 58%, 19%, and 23% of the brain’s fuel requirement, respectively.(5)
Sources:1. Prins, M. L. (2008) J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 28, 1-16.2. Hawkins, R. A., Williamson, D. H. and Krebs, H. A. (1971) Biochem J, 122, 13-18.3. Nehlig, A. (2004) Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids, 70, 265-275.4. Medina, J. M. and Tabernero, A. (2005) J Neurosci Res, 79, 2-10.5. Dombrowski, G. J., Jr., Swiatek, K. R. and Chao, K. L. (1989) Neurochem Res, 14, 667-675.
