Does Ketosis lead to harmful toxins that result to disease and death?
Critics of Low-carb diets cite (and continue to cite) a 2005 study stating those reaching Ketosis has double the toxin levels produced linked to Advanced Glycation end-products, AGE — Methylglyoxal, MG.
- Methylglyoxal, MG, viewed as a toxin, has been linked to aging- and diabetes-related diseases
- Increase in MG has been associated with increased Advanced Glycation End-products, AGE.
- A 2008 study shows the anticancer benefits, Hormetic effects have been seen in 2017
- In 2017, research shows the Ketones bind with MG
A Few Details
When the body goes into Ketosis, it produces Methylglyoxal, MG. Science has previously shown association between MG and metabolic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and others.
Cardiovascular and renal complications are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. Methylglyoxal (MG) is increased in patients with diabetes and has been implicated to play a detrimental role in the etiology of cardiovascular and renal complications.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30179128/
Science has continually evolved and what we knew as life-threatening before can be life-saving — context matter, details matter.
The Big Fat Surprise was named a 2014 *Best Book* by The Economist, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Mother Jones, and Library Journal. It was named one of the best Nutrition audiobooks of all time” by BookAuthority.
The Great Cholesterol Myth — A must-read for anyone interested in learning how deception and financial gain have dominated current diet and cholesterol treatment recommendations, with evidence-based advice on which foods and behavioral strategies can optimize your health. An update is found here.
There are organizations with vested interest in controlling health and nutrition science — gaining influence on supposed non-partisan health agencies and creeping influence in the academe.
Adventism: The Adventist agenda on health and nutrition
Despite this, there are those who question the flawed science and stood up against against it especially with a diet centered around Ketosis.
Claim: Low-carb Diets leading to Ketosis is dangerous due to elevated Methylglyoxal levels
A clinical study in 2005 linked increased Methylglyoxal levels to the Atkins Diet — a low-carb diet. Low-carb diets induce ketosis and thus produces what is referred to as the cytotoxic glycotoxin Methylglyoxal.
Ketosis leads to increased methylglyoxal production on the Atkins diet
In the popular and widely used Atkins diet, the body burns fat as its main fuel. This process produces ketosis and hence increased levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BOB) acetoacetate (AcAc) and its by-products acetone and acetol. These products are potential precursors of the glycotoxin methylglyoxal.
… there is reasonable cause for concern that the very low carbohydrate intake and the unlimited intake of saturated fat and cholesterol may produce adverse effects.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16037240/
The problem with the study isn’t exactly the study itself — that would be the interpretation of the results mostly.
- Does increased Methylglyoxal immediately mean adverse effects?
- Is increased MG on a low-carb, ketogenic diet — Atkins, the Keto Diet, the Carnivore Diet, the Lion Diet — harmful compared to increase in MG on a Standard American Diet, SAD or any other diet that reflects SAD.
Context is important.
The New Science: Ketones buffer Methylglyoxal as harmless metabolites
On a low-carb diet, Scientists from Denmark found that Ketones react with MG to produce harmless metabolites offering protection from dangerous effects of sugar.
Ketone Body Acetoacetate Buffers Methylglyoxal via a Non-enzymatic Conversion during Diabetic and Dietary Ketosis
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2017.07.012Highlights
• In vivo reaction between MG and AcAcO yields the novel metabolite 3-HHD
• The rate of reaction matches that of known pharmacological scavengers of MG
• A metabolite-alkyne-tagging strategy clarifies the reductive metabolism of 3-HHD
• MG-scavenging expands the known biological functions of ketone bodies
In studies that you will encounter, almost everyone’s stating they’re comparing a Ketogenic diet with a High-Carbohydrate diet — not quite true. They hide the nutrient breakdown where it’s seen above 10% or even above 30% and also hide details of the diet in one of the referenced studies or the type of fat is not recommended.
The breakthrough discovery paves the way for other ground-breaking studies but most importantly solidifies the role of Ketones and the process of Ketosis as a friend of the human body and health.
Elevated methylglyoxal might mean very different things depending on what kind of a diet produces it.
https://www.marksdailyapple.com/ketosis-and-methylglyoxal-microwaving-vegetables-the-role-of-salt-in-cooking-and-more-veggie-ideas/
So, on a low-carb diet
- Ketones, AcAcO are produced
- Methylglyoxal, MG levels are almost doubled
- But Ketones and MG bind forming 3-hydroxyhexane-2,5-dione or 3-HHD
Anticancer and Hormetic potential of MG
In 2008, a scientific review on MG was made where the researchers show bountiful benefits than toxic side-effects from MG. As to why an abundance of literature increased on toxic effects of MG is anybody’s guess.
A brief critical overview of the biological effects of methylglyoxal and further evaluation of a methylglyoxal-based anticancer formulation in treating cancer patients
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18533369/
There were 2 studies among many studies and research in 2017 that showed the anticancer and hormetic effect of methylglyoxal.
Anticancer effect through Hormesis
Hormetic potential of methylglyoxal, a side-product of glycolysis, in switching tumours from growth to death
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5600983/Hormetic Effect
Hormesis enables cells to handle accumulating toxic metabolites during increased energy flux
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5565788/
Is Ketosis bad?
There have been long-time low-carbers from the Ketogenic diet to Carnivore diet going beyond a decade and have not suffered a debilitating disease or death. Most importantly, their Calcium Artery Calcification scans have all been 0.
Stephen Phinney’s Nutritional Ketosis is different from other types of “Ketosis” that even som medical professionals refer to like Alcoholic Ketoacidosis, Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Starvation Ketoacidosis.
Invest in the science. It’s good for you.