Part II:

The Physiology of Ketosis

Chapter 3: Fuel utilization

Chapter 4: Basic ketone physiology

Chapter 5: Adaptations to ketosis

Chapter 6: Changes in body composition

Chapter 7: Other effects of the ketogenic diet

To address the physiology behind the ketogenic diet, a number of topics must be discussed.
Chapter 3 discusses the utilization of various fuels: glucose, protein, fat, ketones. Although not
specific to the ketogenic diet, this provides the background to understand the following chapters.

Chapters 4 and 5 address the topics of ketone bodies, ketogenesis, as well as the
adaptations which are seen during the ketogenic diet. These two chapters are among the most
technical in the book but are critical to understanding the basis for the ketogenic diet. Many of
the adaptations seen are well-established, others less so. To avoid turning this into an
undergraduate level biochemistry discussion, many of the smaller details have been omitted.
Interested readers are encouraged to examine the references cited, especially the recent review
papers.

Chapter 6 addresses the question of whether a ketogenic diet causes greater, weight,
water, fat, and protein losses compared to a more traditional fat loss diet. Finally, chapter 7
addresses the other metabolic effects which occur during ketosis.

A note on nomenclature: Strictly speaking, the term ‘ketone’ refers to a general class of chemical
compounds. However, the only three ketone bodies we are concerned with are acetoacetate
(AcAc), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and acetone. To avoid confusion, and since we are only
concerned with these three specific ketone bodies, the terms ketone bodies and ketone(s) are used
interchangeably.