Ketosis

Ketosis as is known in medicine and veterinary medicine a metabolic state in which a rise in the concentration of ketone bodies ( acetoacetate, 3 -hydroxybutyrate, acetone ) is noted in the blood and extracellular fluid of the normal values ​​. It is here also to increased excretion of ketones in the urine and in the expired air. The bad breath or body odor can have in this case a characteristic fruity ketone odor.

Physiology

Cause of ketosis is either a prolonged fasting state, about fasting, or a longer lasting low carbohydrate intake of less than 50 grams per day in adults. It comes under Glucagoneinfluss to meet the required energy demand to increased breakdown of fatty acids to ketone bodies in the liver as an alternative to providing glucose from the breakdown of carbohydrates.

The ketone bodies are used by all tissues, but especially of the muscles and the brain as an energy supplier. Ketone bodies can easily cross the blood- brain barrier. A remaining requirement of carbohydrates, for example for the synthesis of secretions such as saliva can be covered by gluconeogenesis from amino acids and the glycerol of the fats.

The conversion of a high-carbohydrate to a strong carbohydrate- reduced diet or fasting is frequently accompanied by side effects, symptoms are hereby reduction in performance, headache, fatigue or general weakness, but completely subside after a few days.

Demarcation to ketoacidosis

The plasma concentration of ketone bodies in a ketotic metabolic state is about 2-5 mmol / L. Numerous other blood tests, such as blood salts, blood gases are not changed. A diabetic ketoacidosis, however, includes a life-threatening impairment of the acid - base balance, blood salts, and blood gases and ends untreated fatal.

Ketosis in diseases

A Ketogenic diet is an accepted treatment for certain forms of epilepsy in childhood.

In people with an underactive thyroid or Hashimoto 's thyroiditis may lead to a significant shift in the hormone levels, which requires a re-adjustment of medications at a ketosis.

Veterinary Medicine

In the dairy cattle ketosis is also called acetonemia. It occurs in high yielding dairy cows, especially in the first three weeks after calving. It can be used as a primary disease or as a secondary disease as a result of another illness, for example, the milk fever occur. A German study published in 2011 found that for the onset of ketosis is crucial which fats to use the animals for the production of milk fat: ketosis - prone animals mobilized to more body fat while robust animals rather phosphatidylcholine (lecithin ) from the blood use as a source of fatty acids. Healthy animals are therefore identified by a high content of glycerophosphocholine and a low content of phosphocholine in the milk.

Lack of food and certain food ( containing butyric acid silage) can promote ketoses.