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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on March 16, 2004, at 23:55:20
FROM PUBMED:
Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc. 2003;114:149-61; discussion 162-3
Ketoacids? Good medicine?
Cahill GF Jr, Veech RL.
D-beta-hydroxybutyrate, the principal "ketone" body in starving man, displaces glucose as the predominating fuel for brain, decreasing the need for glucose synthesis in liver (and kidney) and accordingly spares its precursor, muscle-derived amino acids. Thus normal 70 kg man survives 2-3 months of starvation instead of several weeks, and obese man many months to over a year. Without this metabolic adaptation, H. sapiens could not have evolved such a large brain. Recent studies have shown that D-beta-hydroxybutyrate, the principal "ketone", is not just a fuel, but a "superfuel" more efficiently producing ATP energy than glucose or fatty acid. In a perfused rat heart preparation, it increased contractility and decreased oxygen consumption. It has also protected neuronal cells in tissue culture against exposure to toxins associated with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. In a rodent model it decreased the death of lung cells induced by hemorrhagic shock. Also, mice exposed to hypoxia survived longer. These and other data suggest a potential use of beta-hydroxybutyrate in a number of medical and non-medical conditions where oxygen supply or substrate utilization may be limited. Efforts are underway to prepare esters of beta-hydroxybutyrate which can be taken orally or parenterally to study its potential therapeutic applications.
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D-beta-hydroxybutyrate does, after all, convert in vivo to the wonder chemical gamma-hydroxybutyrate. Unless I'm missing something, this article seems to suggest that a ketogenic diet (e.g. Atkins) could allow for quite a large buildup of GHB within the body/brain. Though I'm sure it is more complex than that, this theory could help to explain why it is that I (and many, many others) tend to experience a near psychological invincibility when in deep ketosis. Any thoughts/opinions/criticisms/justifications?
Posted by Courtney on March 17, 2004, at 13:38:38
In reply to Ketosis-induced well-being = natural GHB high?, posted by Ame Sans Vie on March 16, 2004, at 23:55:20
wow! Hey can you post references if you have them ? I teach biochem and the kids all want to know about Atkins. I tell them what I know about ketogenesis, but I would like to know more about effects on brain chemistry. I suppose I could look it up pretty easily...
I used to fast once a year and holy cow I'd start to feel GREAT after the fourth or fifth day. I was worried I was just kinda high though - that it wasn't necessarily a good thing. Would like to know more.
thanks, Courtney
Posted by Courtney on March 17, 2004, at 13:40:38
In reply to Ketosis-induced well-being = natural GHB high?, posted by Ame Sans Vie on March 16, 2004, at 23:55:20
oh I feel stupid. I didn't see the title and authors - I thought you had summarized it for us. duh!
Court
Posted by crazychickuk on March 17, 2004, at 14:46:00
In reply to Re: Ketosis-induced well-being = natural GHB high?, posted by Courtney on March 17, 2004, at 13:40:38
hI, I AM DOING THE ATKINS DIET.. AND MY KETOSTIX IS NUMBER 8 LARGE.. WHAT EVER THAT MEANS....
This is the end of the thread.
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