Ketosis
- Ketosis is defined as fat-burning metabolism that results in the production of ketones (acids) in the body.
- Ketones act as a cellular fuel much like glucose, but through different metabolic pathways than glucose metabolism.
- Ketones are routinely produced in diabetics due to insufficient glucose cellular metabolism, and increasingly elevated levels of ketones indicate an uncontrolled diabetic condition.
- High levels of ketones can be dangerous, and result in a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
- In non-diabetics, ketosis is commonly associated with weight loss and fitness programs, but also has medical benefits in Alzheimer's Disease and high-risk cardiac patients.
References
For weight-loss maintenance, a low-carb diet may be best.
Effects of a low carbohydrate diet on energy expenditure during weight loss maintenance: randomized trial
Breath acetone is a reliable indicator of ketosis in adults consuming ketogenic meals
Ketogenic enteral nutrition as a treatment for obesity: short term and long term results from 19,000 patients
Ketosis: What is ketosis?
The fat-fueled brain: unnatural or advantageous?
Nutritional Ketosis and Mitohormesis: Potential Implications for Mitochondrial Function and Human Health