FEATURE NUTRITION Fat fuels All the fuss about exogenous ketones S KETONES B y R yan e mmonS cience suggests fats, protein and carbo-hydrates may be the only macronutri-ent choices for people. However, some in the scientific field are speculating that newly available exogenous ketones (EK) could be the fourth macronutri-ent as they are energy-containing molecules. In recent podcasts, I have heard scientists and fitness enthusiasts state that ketones are the brain’s preferred fuel source, support body composition changes, increase focus and clarity, improve energy, manage inflammation, improve sleep and support mitochondrial health. With EK being new in Canada, I wanted to dive deeper and learn more. It all begins with the ketogenic diet, which pro-motes high levels of healthy fats, moderate protein KETOGENIC and very low carbs. This strict diet is intended to DIET transition the body into a state of ketosis – a meta-bolic state where most of the body’s energy supply A high-fat, comes from ketone bodies in the blood. This is in low-carb diet, contrast to a state of glycolysis, where blood glucose which essentially all0ws the body provides most of the energy. There is significant literature surrounding the to burn more fats, and is ketogenic diet. Of note is the neuroprotective effect potentially where ketone bodies can serve as an alternative fuel for the brain, and have been associated with im-beneficial for proved cognitive function in conditions including weight loss, improved health Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and epilepsy. and perfor-mance There are two fuel sources in the body: glucose and ketones. This parallel system is designed to use ke-tones as an energy source. However, many of us have not been in ketosis or using ketones as fuel since we were infants. When consuming a ketogenic diet, DR. RYAN EMMONS, is the co-owner of Cadence Chiropractic Sport and Health in Calgary, Alta. He can be contacted at [email protected]. 22 Canadian Chiropractor June 2017 during prolonged fasting or prolonged physical exercise, we can transition the body to use fat for fuel. When using fat for fuel, ketones are made in the liver from the breakdown or oxidation of fats. This is the endogenous production of ketones. The dietary approach, or nutritional ketosis, can take days to weeks, even months, to achieve. Now, with scientific advances, ketones can be made in a lab outside of the body. These are known as ex-ogenous ketones. Supplementing with EK allows you to experience ketosis and elevated blood ketone levels. This can now occur independent of dietary restrictions. This puts the body into ketosis in approx-imately 45 to 60 minutes, and occurs even when there are normal levels of blood glucose. In an article, Dominic D’Agostino, a researcher and associate professor with the College of Medicine at the University of South Florida, told Hacked magazine that because “nutritional ketosis is difficult to achieve and sustain for many people, the use of exogenous ketones enables you to circumvent the dietary restrictions and achieve the benefits of the ketone metabolite.” Additionally, because researchers consider the ketone body to be the key component behind the effects of the ketogenic diet, the potential for EK is quite a buzz in the scientific, medical and fitness fields. To understand exogenous ketones, it is vital to note there are three types of ketones: beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), acetoacetate (ACA), and acetone – all three are the normal by-products of fat breakdown by the body. BHB is the primary ketone the body can most efficiently use as fuel, and it is actually found natu-rally in many foods. A ‘BHB salt’ is simply a com-pound that consists of sodium, potassium and the ketone body BHB. Most consumer products are currently a BHB salt. Patients may come in to a chiropractic clinic www.canadianchiropractor.ca
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