ABOUT KETONES-BIOCHEM 101
 

After reading soo much about ketones and keto sticks, I had to get out my biochem book and and see what I could find.:down:.(Like cramming for finals all over again):sick:
Here goes---
Fatty acids are absorbed from the gut and transported into the cells as triglycerides(TG) by lipoprotein lipase and -insulin-.
When needed, they are released by mobilizing lipase, glycogOn, and -adrenalin- to the liver and the muscles cells, and converted back to fatty acids..(Glycogon also releases glycogen from muscles)
The fatty acid are oxidized through a complicated series of pathways to :clap:Actyl-Co A.:clap:

---Stay with me here this is important-----:cool:

Glucose(carbs) is stored in the muscle as glycogen. Most of us know this. Right?:up:
When needed, it is converted to ATP(tiny cell energy) and pyruvate, then to lactate. We have heard of this too. The lactate is transfered in the blood to the liver where it is converted back to pyruvate and then back to glucose. Sneeky little carb.

--Stay with me, it gets better!

Protein cannot be absorbed. It must be converted to amino acids and nitrogen The nitrogen is eliminated in the urine. We have all noticed the ammonia. The amino acids are used to produce make the proteins that our bodies need, some other things, and fuel. Fuel you say, what fuel? :dunno: Well, it is converted to Acetyl Co A, pyruvate, and ATP.

NOTE: protein and carbs can be converted to PYRUVATE and therfore back to glucose for the mucsles to use. But, the protein has other jobs to do too.

:annoyed:GET TO THE POINT:confused: OK, OK!!!

The key here is that Acetyl-CoA can be converted to....KETONES :clap::clap:
Ketones and stored glycogen can be used by the body to produce ATP, the tiny cell energy!!! This means that the sticks may not turn because the body may be using the ketones for tiny cell energy and they may not show in the urine. They are being used by your cells!!!:D:D:D

This may be too much info for some, but I felt compelled to give you the story.:stars::stars:

love the nerd talk!

Good story!even if it left me:confused: not really, but it is complicated. you did a good job of explaining it. :notwrthy:

Acetyl-CoA - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I've been tweaking my ACh recently, so the crossover is interesting enough for me to subscribe. Thanks.

thanks for some thought-provoking points

Totally lost me :doh:

i followed it, but only because i'm taking microbiology this semester. but it is a great and very reassuring post!

I knew that all this would be too much for some but, it might help others to grasp why higher fat lower protein works.:dunno: Or, why the whole LC works at all.:dunno: Or why the sticks aren't pink.:dunno: Or how hormones like insulin and adrenaline(corisol) screw everything up.:dunno: Or that fat ,protein, and carbs all have to be digested,broken down, and transformed, and transported before they can be used at all.:p
All this is controlled by hormones and enzymes in pathways that are very complex. TO SAY THE LEAST!!:stars::stars:
Sooooo, when the question is asked " what is wrong with me? Why can,t I lose weight like you??",:confused: The answer may be in any of these pathways or hormones. Sometimes it takes time to sort out your body differences , to come up with the right answer FOR YOU.:hugs:

Hi, Thanks for your post. I remember reading somewhere that ketostix won't turn color anymore after the body is fully adapted to burning ketones for fuel, because one is no longer excreting extra ketones into the urine, so that "recycling" of the ketones for fuel makes sense. Thanks again!

I'm another that appreciates the nerdy science answers. Thanks for posting this.

You are welcome. All that re-learning gave me nightmares about finals week.:rofl:

And this is referred to as Biochemical Individuality. Thanks for the science. It's always welcome.

Thanks for all that replied.

:confused::)

Excellent post!! Everyone is different and we tend to forget that at times. There is science behind this WOE, its not a 'fad' like WW or Nutrasystem or Jenny or...... lol I could go on and on. Thank you!!

I think I'll use that explanation on my Christmas cards this year :laugh:

:hyst::hyst::hyst:

Thanks for all that wonderful info! I bought some ketone sticks out of curiosity when I first started Atkins. Even when I was losing some crazy weight, the sticks barely showed anything. Now I know why.

bumping for newbies

bumping for chargerrich

I am certainly no expert and do not claim to be, but my experience is that my ketostix are always, at the very least, dark pink and usually purple. I drink plenty of water, run about 8 miles a week and do know that my diet is heavier on protein than fat (estimating something like 65/35/5).

That said, in my now 9 weeks I havev never been out of ketosis save for two days where I planned it.

OK. Now put that on a tshirt and we're in business!

I'll take a bumper sticker. :laugh:

Thanks for the post, doc!

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z..._you_know2.jpg

Great to know!

I think I've got it! (Think My Fair Lady)

She thinks she got it!

The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plains. (We think she's got it!)

The pyruvate turns mainly in to lactate. (Oh yes she's got it!)

****

Sorry I went briefly to my happy place.

Nice post!

Unfortunately, with my size, it would fit on my tshirts.

Now, you close to goal folks, may have a problem with that.

This was actually really helpful! Thank you.

:light bulb:

OK ! I get it !!! Very good information to know. :cool:

THANK YOU for bumping this thread. :hugs: :notwrthy:

Bumping for all the ketosis questions.