Ketogenic Diet - Powerful Dietary Strategy for Certain Conditions

[Maya]

Re: Ketogenic Diet - Path To Transformation?

My friend who is low carb high fat nutricionist said it's better to start with 1.5 g of proteins/ kg body weight
( for example, for me (57 kg) it's 300 g of meat and 1 egg a day + as much fat /bone broth as I can eat) and it works best for me,
I'm not losing any weight and feeling great.. but in days when I'm not so physicaly active I eat less...
and the ketosis is permanent.. My max carbs intake in some days is about 40 g - I'm not feeling good when
it's 0 carbs every day so I'll stick to this

 

[Eva]

Re: Ketogenic Diet - Path To Transformation?

It took me almost a month of reading and slowly reducing carbs untill I actually started experimenting with this diet. My previous diet was gluten "free" (used buckwheat and rice), dairy, sugars (except xylitol) free since 2010. The one thing I hadn't managed until now though was to find certified pastured meat in my area, so I was using organic but gluten-fed red meat.
From 11/1 until 8/2 I started thinking "less carbs" without forcing a specific schedule, which led to a single bowl of green salad daily and 2-3 rice cakes or buckwheat crisps per week. It wasn't too hard because untill then I was already taking most of my calories from meat (with its own fat) and seafood. I wasn't adding extra fat though other than butter or olive oil.

So here's a small summary

8/2-The first week, I completely eliminated the high carb/sugar-foods - potatoes, rice, buckwheat, fruit - but I kept eating vegetables to taste, to start slowly. Still, whenever I allowed myself to go veggies-to-taste, they usually rotted in my fridge so, while eliminating carbs as much as I naturally could, it became a straight up 3-5gr without any serious effort. I did dream of a red juicy apple from time to time but after some buttered herbal tea I completely forgot about it.
I felt lighter and more energetic at this time, yet I had cravings for 2 completely awkward things for me. Peanuts and whiskey! That was puzzling because I normally don't eat peanuts and I NEVER drink whiskey or alcohol except for a glass of organic wine very, very rarely - 0-3 times per month. It was funny to experience that! I couldn't help wondering WHO was craving that stuff cause it surely wasn't me
Going from my first to second week I made the nut balls from PBPM as a cravings' safety net but that was wasted resources because I had a bite 2 days in a row and then I didn't feel like touching them at all.

15/2-The second week I was increasing fat intake. I had no cravings at all but was in a miserable mood. Coincidentally my week started with the Russia meteor and ended with the flood in Athens, so I think of it as my cataclysmically change-induced depression week.
I'm not complaining though because I could use that mood to go a bit deeper in my programs, (ouch!). Plus was in luck because I had planned (over a month ago) a week off work at precisely the same time period and that gave me time to process stuff that surfaced.
During this second week I also had trouble laying down as mentioned by others, feeling a generalised tenderness. Even the the duvet was too much to bear at times.
Palpitations were noticeable during both weeks, but mostly the second. Energy wise, I experienced a steady increase since day 1. Even when in the miserable mood of my second week, I had enough energy to go about reading and doing stuff all day, sometimes grumbling and aching but nonetheless on the move.

22/2- For the third week I had decided to increase fat intake more aggressively and restrict protein. I also made my first bone stock (I froze the bones for now and saved making broth proper for the 4th or 5th week). This was interesting, I had a cup of stock along with eggs fried in lard for breakfast and then I didn't want to eat for the rest of the day. I had already read the experiences with IF shared here, so I wasn't too alarmed, I thought that maybe my body decided to do a small fast to induce ketosis, so I just allowed myself to go without food for as long as it felt natural. I was ready to eat only after 36 hours.
During this 3rd week I noticed a diffuse muscle and joint pain especially at the back of my neck, the right shoulder and the lower limbs. I also felt a bit tender at the general area of the stomach. Having some vinegar with my fatty meals though has alleviated that completely. Also using digestive enzymes before each meal. Palpitations were still there, slightly less but noticeable.

So, I'm now in my 4th week but no technical results to speak of yet - I ordered ketostix and a blood ketone meter but I'll have those next week. I now have to measure my protein intake not in order to restrict it, but to make sure I eat as much as I should otherwise I drop to under 40g per day. I calculated that I need 65x0.8=52g , and thinking I should ease in on the restriction maybe even start with 65g per day but that feels too much. On a side note, I really dislike measuring food but for now I'm doing it, because reading similar experiences here, I saw how nasty it can be to neglect protein intake.

I read PBPM before starting any dietary changes and now going through The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living. Great books, yet this thread is invaluable in getting a glimpse of what symptoms may appear, what to look out for, and some brilliant ideas - like buttered tea, THANK you for that gem!
Just one last thing to add, yet for me, the most important. There are a lot of resources out there discussing healthy living - in many, many different shapes and forms - and I never cared about the whole package. If the diet changes - starting from stopping being vegan, to eating red meat and using supplements, to the ketogenic diet now - reached me from a nutritionist ONLY pov I'd never have implemented them. Ever. It's the focus on the spirit and working from there to find the best configuration of the body in order to be in its full potential to accommodate changes that reached me.
There's this paleo community, which I did read a bit into a year ago and stopped bothering pretty soon. The focus seems just as hollow as it ever was and the whole thing screams of commercial adds, selling stuff and deifying matter from miles away. That, while surely valuable in itself, may still turn someone away.
The experiment that's going on here is a lot more in depth, following a specific aim while using science to reach that aim. It's simply invaluable. And it reaches out in ways far beyond "healthy living".
So, many, many thanks for your work I wish I had been part of the experiment in a more timely and useful fashion.

EDIT to add : I plan starting resistance exercise and cold showers after the 4th week has concluded and I have checked my ketones.

 

[herondancer]

Re: Ketogenic Diet - Path To Transformation?

Thank for the summary Eva. It looks like you've gone about implementing your diet changes in a measured, sensible way, paying close attention to your body's signals but dealing with them with your intellect. Great job! And having your week off available just when you need it. It's really cool to see how other parts of our consciousness can take care of us when we let them.

 

[Eva]

Re: Ketogenic Diet - Path To Transformation?

Thanks for your reply and kind words herondancer

 

[Gaby]

Re: Ketogenic Diet - Path To Transformation?

So, I'm now in my 4th week but no technical results to speak of yet - I ordered ketostix and a blood ketone meter but I'll have those next week.

Thank you Eva for sharing your experiences. If you ordered a blood ketone meter, I would love to read about your results with same plus what were you eating and how much. Pretty much like you have done already :) Some people have shared their experiments and I think the more the merrier. It is always interesting to read.

Perhaps a general question I have in mind is... Has anyone seen fluctuations in blood ketone levels with megadoses of vitamin C or liposomal vitamin C?

 

[Gaby]

Re: Ketogenic Diet - Path To Transformation?

This update is very friendly, synthesizing much of the research currently available:

Your brain on ketones

http://www.sott.net/article/258753-Your-brain-on-ketones

Emily Deans, MD.
Fri, 22 Feb 2013 09:19 CS

Ketogenic diets have been prescribed for seizures for a long time. The actual research diets used in the past were pretty dismal and seemed to involve drinking a lot of cream and eating a lot of mayonnaise. At Johns Hopkins, pediatric patients were admitted to the hospital for a 48 hour fast and then given eggnog (minus the rum and sugar, I'm guessing) until ketosis was achieved (usually took about 4 days). In addition, ketogenic diets were calorie restricted to just 75-90% of what would be considered a child's usual calorie intake, and often they were fluid-restricted too (1)! If we're talking soybean oil mayonnaise, you could see how someone could get into trouble with mineral deficiencies and liver problems pretty quickly

To understand "dismal," some of the latest research showed that a "modified Atkins protocol" was just as good as the classic ketogenic diet, and so much more liberating, as the patients were allowed up to 10 grams of carbohydrates daily, and they didn't begin with the fast, and they weren't calorie restricted (2)(3). While the classic ketogenic diet was 4:1:1 fat to carbs to protein. If you use MCT oil for 50% of your calories (have to add it in slowly though to prevent vomiting, diarrhea, and cramping!), you could increase the carbohydrates and proteins to a 1.2:1:1 fat:carb:protein and still get the same numbers of magical ketones circulating. And while "MCT oil" sounds nice and yummy when it is gorgeous coconut milk, this MCT Oil 100% Pure 32 fl.oz doesn't look quite as appetizing, especially when that is going the be half of what you eat for the foreseeable future (4). You can see why researchers consider ketogenic diets (especially the original versions) to be extremely difficult and unappetizing (they were), whereas seasoned low-carbers (who have a bit of a different idea what a ketogenic diet is) will find that attitude ridiculous, especially when you compare a ketogenic diet to the side effects of some anti-epileptic medications.

So it looks like modified Atkins (very very low carb, but not zero carb) and a preponderance of MCT is the same, ketone-wise, for the brain as the classic cream-heavy ketogenic diet. And what does it mean to have a ketogenic brain? Before, we talked about protons, but now I'm going to examine neurotransmitters and brain energy more closely. Specifically, glutamate and GABA (5).

If you recall, GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian nervous system. Turns out, GABA is made from glutamate, which just happens to be the major excitatory neurotransmitter. You need them both, but we seem to get into trouble when have too much glutamate. Too much excitement in the brain means neurotoxicity, the extreme manifestation of which is seizures. But neurological diseases as varied as depression, bipolar disorder, migraines, ALS, and dementia have all been linked in some way to neurotoxicity.

Glutamate has several fates, rather like our old buddy tryptophan. It can become GABA (inhibitory), or aspartate (excitatory and, in excess, neurotoxic). Ketogenic diets seem to favor glutamate becoming GABA rather than aspartate. No one knows exactly why, but part of the reason has to do with how ketones are metabolized, and how ketosis favors using acetate (acetoacetate is one of the ketone bodies, after all) for fuel. Acetate becomes glutamine, an essential precursor for GABA.

Here's the confusing part. A classic ketogenic diet had three major components which were thought to contribute to the anti-seizure effect. One, it was calorie restricted. Just calorie restricting epileptic monkeys (no matter what the macronutrient ratios) reduces seizure frequency (and increases longevity). Secondly, it was acidic, and the extra protons themselves could block proton-sensitive ion channels, or the ketone bodies or fats themselves could affect the neuron membranes, making them harder to excite. (For the biochem geeks out there, ketones or fats seem to affect ATP sensitive K+ ion channels, making hyperpolarization easier to maintain). Thirdly, it lowered glucose levels. And lower glucose is associated with a higher seizure threshold (that's good - once doesn't want to easily have a seizure!) and less neuronal excitability. Gads. Doesn't sound to me like glucose really is the preferred fuel for the brain after all.

And now let's really get down to the mitochondrial level. Mitochondria are the power plants of our cells, where all the energy is produced (as ATP). Now, when I was taught about biochemical fuel-burning, I was taught that glucose was "clean" and ketones were "smokey." That glucose was clearly the preferred fuel for our muscles for exercise and definitely the key fuel for the brain. Except here's the dirty little secret about glucose - when you look at the amount of garbage leftover in the mitochondria, it is actually less efficient to make ATP from glucose than it is to make ATP from ketone bodies! A more efficient energy supply makes it easier to restore membranes in the brain to their normal states after a depolarizing electrical energy spike occurs, and means that energy is produced with fewer destructive free radicals leftover.

Umph. What does it all mean? Well, in the brain, energy is everything. The brain needs a crapload of energy to keep all those membrane potentials maintained - to keep pushing sodium out of the cells and pulling potassium into the cells. In fact, the brain, which is only 2% of our body weight, uses 20% of our oxygen and 10% of our glucose stores just to keep running. (Some cells in our brain are actually too small (or have tendrils that are too small) to accommodate mitochondria (the power plants). In those places, we must use glucose itself (via glycolysis) to create ATP. When we change the main fuel of the brain from glucose to ketones, we change amino acid handling. And that means we change the ratios of glutamate and GABA. The best responders to a ketogenic diet for epilepsy end up with the highest amount of GABA in the central nervous system.

One of the things the brain has to keep a tight rein on is the amount of glutamate hanging out in the synapse. Lots of glutamate in the synapse means brain injury, or seizures, or low level ongoing damaging excitotoxicity as you might see in depression. The brain is humming along, using energy like a madman. Even a little bit more efficient use of the energy makes it easier for the brain to pull the glutamate back into the cells. And that, my friends, is a good thing.

Let me put it this way. Breastmilk is high in fat. Newborns (should) spend a lot of time in ketosis, and are therefore ketoadapted. Being ketoadapted means that babies can more easily turn ketone bodies into acetyl-coA and into myelin. Ketosis helps babies construct and grow their brains. (Update - looked more into this specifically and it seems that babies are in mild ketosis, but very young babies seem to utilize lactate as a fuel in lieu of glucose also - some of these were rat studies, though - and the utilization of lactate also promotes the same use of acetyl-CoA and gives the neonates some of the advantages of ketoadaptation without being in heavy ketosis.)

We know (more or less) what all this means for epilepsy (and babies!). We don't precisely know what it means for everyone else, at least brain-wise. Ketosis occurs with carbohydrate restriction, MCT oil use, or fasting. Some people believe that being ketoadapted is the ideal - others will suggest that we can be more relaxed, and eat a mostly low sugar diet with a bit of intermittent fasting thrown in to give us periods of ketosis (though in general I don't recommend intermittent fasting for anyone with an eating disorder). Ketosis for the body means fat-burning (hip hip hooray!). For the brain, it means a lower seizure risk and a better environment for neuronal recovery and repair.

Other relevant updates:

Cancer & Sugar - Strategy for selective starvation of cancer
http://www.sott.net/article/258920-Cancer-Sugar-Strategy-for-selective-starvation-of-cancer

Your brain on omega 3
http://www.sott.net/article/258977-Your-brain-on-omega-3

Our brains seem to be designed to run on fish oil.[...] In simple terms, that means significantly decreasing the amount of processed food we eat, and making sure we get some oily fish a few times a week

 

[Gaby]

Re: Ketogenic Diet - Path To Transformation?

Here is some information on the methylglyoxal controversy and why it might be important:

First, the critics:

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2005 Jun;1043:201-10.

Ketosis leads to increased methylglyoxal production on the Atkins diet.

Beisswenger BG, Delucia EM, Lapoint N, Sanford RJ, Beisswenger PJ.
_http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16037240

Dartmouth Medical School, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.

Abstract

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. Since methylglyoxal and its byproducts are recognized as a significant cause of blood vessel and tissue damage, we measured methylglyoxal, acetone, and acetol in subjects on the Atkins diet. We found that by 14-28 days, methylghyoxal levels rose 1.67-fold (P = 0.039) and acetol and acetone levels increased 2.7- and 6.12-fold, respectively (P = 0.012 and 0.028). Samples from subjects with ketosis showed even greater increases in methylglyoxal (2.12-fold), as well as acetol and acetone, which increased 4.19- and 7.9-fold, respectively; while no changes were seen in samples from noncompliant, nonketotic subjects. The increase in methylglyoxal implies that potential tissue and vascular damage can occur on the Atkins diet and should be considered when choosing a weight-loss program.

Here is another perspective on the subject:

Sunday, March 14, 2010
Ketosis, methylglyoxal, and accelerated aging: Probably more fiction than fact

_http://healthcorrelator.blogspot.com/2010/03/ketosis-methylglyoxal-and-accelerated_14.html
by Ned Kock

Just to recap, an interesting hypothesis has been around for quite some time about a possible negative effect of ketosis. This hypothesis argues that ketosis leads to the production of an organic compound called methylglyoxal, which is believed to be a powerful agent in the formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs).

In vitro research, and research with animals (e.g., mice and cows), indeed suggests negative short-term effects of increased ketosis-induced methylglyoxal production. These studies typically deal with what appears to be severe ketosis, not the mild type induced in healthy people by very low carbohydrate diets.

However, the bulk of methylglyoxal is produced via glycolysis, a multi-step metabolic process that uses sugar to produce the body’s main energy currency – adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Ketosis is a state whereby ketones are used as a source of energy instead of glucose.[...]

Thus it follows that ketosis is associated with reduced glycolysis and, consequently, reduced methylglyoxal production, since the bulk of this substance (i.e., methylglyoxal) is produced through glycolysis.

So, how can one argue that ketosis is “a recipe for accelerated AGEing”?

One guess is that ketosis is being confused with ketoacidosis, a pathological condition in which the level of circulating ketones can be as much as 40 to 80 times that found in ketosis. De Grey (2007) refers to “diabetic patients” when he talks about this possibility (i.e., the connection with accelerated AGEing), and ketoacidosis is an unfortunately common condition among those with uncontrolled diabetes.

A gentle body massage is relaxing, and thus health-promoting. Add 40 times to the pressure, and the massage will become a form of physical torture; certainly unhealthy. That does not mean that a gentle body massage is unhealthy.

Interestingly, ketoacidosis often happens together with hyperglycemia, so at least part of the damage associated with ketoacidosis is likely to be caused by high blood sugar levels. Ketosis, on the other hand, is not associated with hyperglycemia.

Finally, if ketosis led to accelerated AGEing to the same extent as, or worse than, chronic hyperglycemia does, where is the long-term evidence?

Since the late 1800s people have been experimenting with ketosis-inducing diets, and documenting the results. The Inuit and other groups have adopted ketosis-inducing diets for much longer, although evolution via selection might have played a role in these cases.

No one seems to have lived to be 150 years of age, but where are the reports of conditions akin to those caused by chronic hyperglycemia among the many that went “banting” in a more strict way since the late 1800s?

The arctic explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson, who is reported to have lived much of his adult life in ketosis, died in 1962, in his early 80s. After reading about his life, few would disagree that he lived a rough life, with long periods without access to medical care. I doubt that Stefansson would have lived that long if he had suffered from untreated diabetes.

Severe ketosis, to the point of large amounts of ketones being present in the urine, may not be a natural state in which our Paleolithic ancestors lived most of the time. In modern humans, even a 24 h water fast, during an already low carbohydrate diet, may not induce ketosis of this type. Milder ketosis states, with slightly elevated concentrations of ketones showing up in blood tests, can be achieved much more easily.

In conclusion, the notion that ketosis causes accelerated aging to the same extent as chronic hyperglycemia seems more like fiction than fact.

Reference:

De Grey, A. (2007). Ending aging: The rejuvenation breakthroughs that could reverse human aging in our lifetime. New York: NY: St. Martin’s Press.

Sounds reasonable and I think the fear of this natural compound are completely unfounded. What I found interesting is that the first study shows that those on an Atkins diet have high levels of this compound. What if methylglyoxal is actually a good thing? I found the following article to be very interesting, especially from the anti-viral point of view!!

Biochemistry (Mosc). 2009 Oct;74(10):1059-69.

_http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19916918

Critical evaluation of toxic versus beneficial effects of methylglyoxal

Talukdar D, Chaudhuri BS, Ray M, Ray S.

Department of Biological Chemistry, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata, 700032, India.

Abstract

In various organisms, an array of enzymes is involved in the synthesis and breakdown of methylglyoxal. Through these enzymes, it is intimately linked to several other physiologically important metabolites, suggesting that methylglyoxal has some important role to play in the host organism. Several in vitro and in vivo studies showed that methylglyoxal acts specifically against different types of malignant cells. These studies culminated in a recent investigation to evaluate a methylglyoxal-based formulation in treating a small group of cancer patients, and the results were promising. Methylglyoxal acts against a number of pathogenic microorganisms. However, recent literature abounds with the toxic effects of methylglyoxal, which are supposed to be mediated through methylglyoxal-derived advanced glycation end products (AGE). Many diseases such as diabetes, cataract formation, hypertension, and uremia are proposed to be intimately linked with methylglyoxal-derived AGE. However methylglyoxal-derived AGE formation and subsequent pathogenesis might be a very minor event because AGE are nonspecific reaction products that are derived through the reactions of carbonyl groups of reducing sugars with amino groups present in the side chains of lysine and arginine and in terminal amino groups of proteins. Moreover, the results of some in vitro experiments with methylglyoxal under non-physiological conditions were extrapolated to the in vivo situation. Some experiments even showed contradictory results and were differently interpreted. For this reason conclusions about the potential beneficial effects of methylglyoxal have often been neglected, thus hindering the advancement of medical science and causing some confusion in fundamental understanding. Overall, the potential beneficial effects of methylglyoxal far outweigh its possible toxic role in vivo, and it should be utilized for the benefit of suffering humanity.

It seems to me that ignorance of sugar's detrimental role in our bodies through advanced glycation end products- AGE (to mention just one) is among the obscuring elements those criticizing a ketogenic diet are using to portray methylglyoxal as harmful.

I downloaded the above paper and here is something that really caught my attention:

Szent
Gyorgyi championed the idea that methylgly
oxal is a natural growth regulator and can act as a strong anticancer agent [5]. Methylglyoxal has been found to possess strong activity against a number of pathogenic viruses [6]. In fact, the anticancer effect of methylglyoxal stemmed from the study of its antiviral effect [7]. Recently, it has been observed that methylglyoxal acts against a number of other pathogenic microorganisms. [8
10]. Szent
Gyorgyi and other investigators with remark
able experimental evidences showed methylglyoxal could arrest growth and/or destroy malignant cells without any apparent toxic effect to the host [11, 12]. At the same time, Apple and Greenberg showed significant curative effect of methylglyoxal on animals harboring a wide vari
ety of malignant cells [13]. Despite these promising results, until recently nei
ther academic researchers nor clinicians have made any attempt to translate this research potential to the benefit of humankind. On the other hand, recent literature abounds with the toxic effects of methylglyoxal.[...]

Antimalarial activity of methylglyoxal. Recently anti
malarial activity of methylglyoxal has been reported [8].
Proliferation of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falci
parum, was inhibited by methylglyoxal with IC50 of only
0.2 mM.[...]

Activity of methylglyoxal against Staphylococcus aureus. In a very recent publication, Mavric et al. have
shown that the active principle of the well
known anti
bacterial property of New Zealand manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honey is methylglyoxal [10]. The minimally inhibitory concentration against St. aureus was 1.1 mM.[...] {manuka, which is also used for yeast overgrowth}

Antiviral effect of methylglyoxal. The antiviral activi
ty of methylglyoxal has been briefly mentioned in the
introductory section. To elaborate, in 1957 de Bock et al. screened the growth inhibitory effect of a number of compounds towards a strain of influenza virus. In experiments with chicken embryo, they showed that a number of α
ketoaldehydes were active, and methylglyoxal almost topped the list [6]. The antiviral activity of methylglyoxal has also been found against New
Castle disease and influenza [59], foot and mouth disease [60], and other viruses by other investigators [61]. Surprisingly, no study on the antiviral effect of methylglyoxal was pursued thereafter.

ANTICANCER EFFECT OF METHYLGLYOXAL

The anticancer effect of methylglyoxal has been briefly mentioned in the introductory section. It appears
that the most remarkable positive effect of methylglyoxal arose from the studies of anticancer effect of methylgly
oxal. As early as 1958, the anticancer effect of methylgly
oxal was first studied and effective response was obtained [7]. These studies stemmed from the study of antiviral effect of methylglyoxal. Because virus is one of the causative agents of cancer, it was thought that methylgly
oxal might have some anticancer effect. Szent
Gyorgyi and his collaborators in their pioneering work on the bio
logical role of methylglyoxal put forward strong evidence for the anticancer and growth inhibitory effect of methylglyoxal [5]. Egyud and Szent
Gyorgyi showed that when methylglyoxal was injected into mice along with sarcoma 180 cells, no tumor developed and the mice remained completely healthy [11]. They even produced healthy off
spring. However, the duration of the treatment was short, and methylglyoxal treatment began just after tumor inoc
ulation. They also found that in tissue cultures methylglyoxal was more sensitive to malignant cells than to normal cells.

Apple and Greenberg showed that methylglyoxal sig
nificantly inhibited tumor growth and in some cases pro
duced indefinite survivors among mice bearing leukemia, lymphosarcoma, adenocarcinoma, sarcoma 180, and
other varieties of tumor at daily dose level of approxi
mately 80 mg/kg of body weight. A single dose of about
225 mg/kg of body weight significantly inhibited advanced leukemia and produced indefinite survivors among mice bearing either lymphosarcoma or carcinoma [13]. The in vivo anticancer effect of methylglyoxal was augmented in the presence of glyceraldehyde [62].

Similar therapeutic activity of methylglyoxal towards cancer
bearing animals has also been obtained by other
investigators [12, 56]. Numerous studies have shown that methylglyoxal acts against a wide variety of tumors. For the sake of brevity, we mention here only some of these studies.

Methylglyoxal is toxic to human neuroblastoma cells in a dose
dependent manner above concentration of 0.15mM with a LD50 of approximately 1.25 mM. At the concen
tration of 5 mM methylglyoxal, the viable cells were only 6% [63]. When exogenous methylglyoxal was added to human leukemia HL
60 cells in culture, inhibition of growth and toxicity was induced; the LD50 was 0.24 mM. Methylglyoxal, however, did not induce any toxicity in differentiated cells, i.e. neutrophils under similar culture conditions [64]. Methylglyoxal produced an apoptotic response of human MCF7 breast and RKO colon cancer lines. However, overexpression of glyoxalase II inhibited the methylglyoxal
induced apoptotic response of the cells. Glyoxalase II acts in tandem with glyoxalase I for the breakdown of methylglyoxal to D
lactate. Likewise, cells deficient in glyoxalase II were hypersensitive to methylglyoxal
induced apoptosis [65]. Methylglyoxal was also able to induce severe (>99%) cell death in 24 h in human prostate cancer cells [66]. The activities of glyox
alase I and/or glyoxalase II were found to be higher in several cancer cell lines [67
69]. However, there are con
tradictory reports too [70].

[...]

As mentioned above, Apple and Greenberg showed remarkable curative effect of methylglyoxal on mice bear

ing a wide variety of cancers [13, 62]. From these results, it was logical to immediately investigate the efficacy of methylglyoxal in treating cancer patients. However, the first paper that reported the testing of methylglyoxal in treating cancer patients was as late as 2001 [80]. The study was extended to a larger number of cancer patients, giving promising results [81, 82]. It was found that methylglyox
al is quite effective in treating cancer patients who were suffering from a wide variety of cancers. Moreover, methylglyoxal is apparently devoid of any toxic effect, in contrast to other anticancer drugs that are now widely used. However, these studies need validation with greater numbers of cancer patients in different centers.

That methylglyoxal is effective against so many dif
ferent types of malignant cells lends support to the view that different types of malignant cells have common and specific altered site(s).

CONCLUDING REMARKS

This review has critically evaluated both the reported toxic and beneficial effects of methylglyoxal and suggests
that the potential beneficial effects of methylglyoxal far outweigh its possible toxic effects. It has not been proved
that methylglyoxal significantly contributes to the sug
gested deleterious effects on the host. Compared to the
voluminous in vitro work, the in vivo studies are very lim
ited. Moreover, many related carbonyl compounds,
which are vital for cellular metabolism and nutrition, might also be linked with similar effects in the organism.
Can we dispense with these nutrients? Any compound or even a metabolite has some potential adverse effect on the host however small this effect may be. The effect of a par
ticular compound must be judged by balancing the bene
fit and adversity. The reported activity of methylglyoxal against a number of pathogenic microorganisms and its anticancer properties raise the question whether methyl
glyoxal is a natural defense of the host especially for
mammals. However, due to the mindset of a large of num
ber of researchers the potential beneficial effects of methylglyoxal are not being translated resulting in a seri
ous deterrent to the advancement of medical science. The primary effects of methylglyoxal, which can be translated to the benefit of suffering humankind, are its activities
against a number of pathogenic microorganisms and its anticancer effects. We appeal to academics, clinicians,
research administrators, and pharmaceutical companies to translate this research potential to the benefit of
humankind.

The documented anticancer effect of this compound along with its antiviral and anti-microorganism effect is among the most astonishing that I have read or seen so far. And it increases with the ketogenic diet! It is really ironic that I stumbled upon it thanks to ketogenic diet critics.

 

[Laura]

Re: Ketogenic Diet - Path To Transformation?

Here is some information on the methylglyoxal controversy and why it might be important:

First, the critics:<snip>

The documented anticancer effect of this compound along with its antiviral and anti-microorganism effect is among the most astonishing that I have read or seen so far. And it increases with the ketogenic diet! It is really ironic that I stumbled upon it thanks to ketogenic diet critics.

That really is amazing. It seems pretty clear that it is the authoritarian follower type "scientists" who follow the party line and cook their research to favor drugs instead of nature.

Now I understand why the historical record shows meat eaters surviving plagues better than bread and veggie eaters.

 

[Gaby]

Re: Ketogenic Diet - Path To Transformation?

That really is amazing. It seems pretty clear that it is the authoritarian follower type "scientists" who follow the party line and cook their research to favor drugs instead of nature.

Now I understand why the historical record shows meat eaters surviving plagues better than bread and veggie eaters.

It is really astonishing information! That something so beneficial as methylgyoxal got so buried down goes beyond crimes against humanity.

Malaria, to name just one infectious disease, is a number one killer in some regions. According to WHO:

About 3.3 billion people – half of the world's population – are at risk of malaria. In 2010, there were about 216 million malaria cases (with an uncertainty range of 149 million to 274 million) and an estimated 655 000 malaria deaths (with an uncertainty range of 537 000 to 907 000)[...]

People living in the poorest countries are the most vulnerable to malaria. In 2010, 90% of all malaria deaths occurred in the WHO African Region, mostly among children under five years of age.

Yet, with the research uncovered on this paper, malaria would simply not exist if people were in natural ketosis. So much for tropical fruit and its "healthy" effects!

 

[Voyageur]

Re: Ketogenic Diet - Path To Transformation?

[quote author=Psyche]
Yet, with the research uncovered on this paper, malaria would simply not exist if people were in natural ketosis. So much for tropical fruit and its "healthy" effects!
[/quote]

Then there is the UN from this SotT article Let Them Eat Grass.

Yet another arm of the United Nations is demanding that we stop eating meat, "to save the planet."

The blame game again: not to mention so much of the global lands being stolen or leased out to our factory producers, leaving people little proper food, yet for the hand outs of grains, powdered milk and sugar.

This authoritarian cabal in our BBM's kitchen, dictating this and that through strong arm tactics, WHO, corporate control, Wall Street etc. all fostered by scientific disinformation, surely doe not bode well.

 

[LQB]

Re: Ketogenic Diet - Path To Transformation?

This authoritarian cabal in our BBM's kitchen, dictating this and that through strong arm tactics, WHO, corporate control, Wall Street etc. all fostered by scientific disinformation, surely doe not bode well.

Indeed - it brings to mind a fireball or two...

 

[panca kanga]

Re: Ketogenic Diet - Path To Transformation?

Part-way through that interesting overview of the ignored effects of methylglyoxal
Psyche highlighted:

That methylglyoxal is effective against so many dif
ferent types of malignant cells lends support to the view that different types of malignant cells have common and specific altered site(s).

But isn't the more interesting thing that methylglyoxal's action is even wider? The suggestion made in the paper was that methylglyoxal is effective against virus, germ and parasitic infections as well as a range of cancers. So shouldn't the implication perhaps be that methylglyoxal is boosting some other cellular function rather than suggesting anything about "altered sites in malignant cells"? (Not that I have the slightest idea what an 'altered site' may be).

BTW. Oddly, the spelling checker throws up a misspelling for the first "different" in

...dif
ferent types of malignant...that different types...

but not in its second occurrence. They look the same to me. Is it me or is it some glitch in the spelling checker? (If there is any point in replying to this 2nd comment then I guess it should go in the 'Dr. Bizaramor Strikes Back' board to keep this thread on-topic?)

 

[Gaby]

Re: Ketogenic Diet - Path To Transformation?

Here is an article that might shed some light for some with itchiness and histamine problems at the beginning of ketoadaptation:

_http://primaldocs.com/opinion/histamine-intolerance-gaps-and-low-carb/

Histamine Intolerance, GAPS and Low Carb

Ultimately, it seems more a matter of leaky gut and/or gut dysbiosis, so the more the gut heals, the more you tolerate histamine rich foods. That seems to be the general experience.

 

[Regulattor]

Re: Ketogenic Diet - Path To Transformation?

Here is an article that might shed some light for some with itchiness and histamine problems at the beginning of ketoadaptation:

_http://primaldocs.com/opinion/histamine-intolerance-gaps-and-low-carb/

Histamine Intolerance, GAPS and Low Carb

Ultimately, it seems more a matter of leaky gut and/or gut dysbiosis, so the more the gut heals, the more you tolerate histamine rich foods. That seems to be the general experience.

Thanks for this information Psyche! It's very timely for me, since last few days Spring is knocking on my door and first tree polens are in the air and I've noticed few odd face rashes which are not usual for me in spite of my allergy history. I was thinking last evening about my histamine going off and what can cause this. My diet, as is for the most of forum members, consisting mostly of bacon, meats, fish, all of which contains histamine, but since I'm having problems with allergy, this can be very useful information.

Well, according to Histamine Intolerance symptoms list I would find my self positive in 10 at least. What's most bothering is that cured bacon is my staple food and it's high in histamine, which leaves me with great difficulty to adjust my diet regimen.

The GAPS diet is naturally high in histamines. It can be modified, with care taken to avoid left overs, bone broths and fermented foods. These important foods may be added back in very very incrementally as the body heals. Perhaps one shred of sauerkraut or a spoonful of broth, and titrating up as tolerated. Meanwhile probiotics can be used, as long as they do not contain histamine producing species of microflora. It remains a priority to heal the gut, as for most people, it is likely the damage to the enterocytes which comprise the mucosa of the gut wall, which has resulted in a lack of capacity to produce the enzyme DAO that metabolizes histamine. Thus the underlying cause of histamine intolerance is ultimately in most cases likely to be gut dysbiosis, and there must still be an ongoing effort to heal and rebalance the microflora.

Bone broths to avoid!?! Didn't broths suppose to heal the gut? Sauerkraut is off limits for me too and I'm painfully aware of that. But bone broths and bacon and ham to avoid, I'm really driven in the corner. Question is how to restore healthy gut microflora while I had no significant results with probiotic supplementation so far. I guess that means back to square one.

Edited: some change for clarity

 

[Laura]

Re: Ketogenic Diet - Path To Transformation?

I've been making some experiments and observations about the KD vis a vis nutrient content. I notice that I HAVE to take magnesium supplements or things don't "move". So I started wondering about this. See the post in the Magnesium thread here:

http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,2354.msg402007.html#msg402007