2011 Nutrition and Metabolism Symposium - Part 2

This is the second part of my report on the 2011 Nutrition and Metabolism Symposium. Part One Is Here

The second day of the conference was begun with a lecture from Dr. Stephen Phinney called "Keto-Adaptation: Physiology and Function". In other words, what does the body go through to adapt to using fat for energy instead of glucose? (It turns out that Dr. Phinney may have coined the term keto-adaptation, from research he conducted in the 1980's.) Key points are that our bodies have clearly evolved to be able to handle periods of little food and/or little carbohydrate, but also that it takes varying lengths of time for different parts of our physiology to adapt. The vast majority of the adaptation happens in the first week, and by 3-4 weeks even the bodies of athletes are back to their regular high functioning, or even improved function. However, there are subtle changes for up to 12 weeks of eating a ketogenic diet.

Dr. Jeff Volek talked about the other side of the coin in his talk, "Anti-Ketogenic Effect of Insulin and Dietary Carbohydrate". He focused on how disturbances in the insulin system can cause problems such as difficulties burning fat (small changes in insulin cause dramatic changes in the ability to burn fat), how fructose interferes with insulin sensitivity, and how, although exercise has positive effects on insulin sensitivity, this is at least partially negated by consuming carbohydrate. He also says, "a strong case can be made that lower carbohydrate intake or slow release forms of carbohydrate are preferred for active individuals seeking improvements in metabolic health and performance."

Dr. Mary Vernon, in her usual enthusiastic way, talked to the assembled physicians about "Clinical Application of Ketogenic Diets: Safe Use of an Effective Strategy". She reviewed data about the effects of low-carb diets, and the variety of clinical syndromes that could be improved. (There is a long list of conditions related to hyperinsulinemia, from ovarian dysfunction to migraines to psychiatric disorders.) She also talked about how burning glucose causes more oxidative stress in the body than burning fat. And she gave advice on how to transition patients to a ketogenic diet, and some guidelines for people with certain conditions and on certain medications.

Dr. Adam Hartman talked about the effects of a ketogenic diet on the nervous system, and its potential positive effects on conditions such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's Disease, with animal models showing possible positive effects in other conditions - even traumatic brain injury. Of course, the use of the ketogenic diet in treating epilepsy (which affects 1% of the population) is now well-established, though "underutilized".

I hope to write more about these topics. Dr. Phinney has agreed to speak with me more about keto-adaptation, which I know will be of interest to my readers.

And finally, a word about the great organization that sponsored this event to educate physicians about ketogenic diets. The Nutrition and Metabolism Society is one of the few groups spending any energy at all on getting the word out about the effectiveness of low-carb diets. Research dollars are very difficult to get in this area, and the medical establishment is largely unaware of the benefits of carbohydrate reduction. I encourage my readers to join - just a $10 donation from a lot of people helps so much. I have more about this here, including how to join for $10.

Image Courtesy of Nutrition and Metabolism Society

Related Resources:

• How to Get Through the First Low-Carb Week
  
  
• 6 Steps for the Beginner
  
  
• Low-Carb Food Pyramid

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