Glossary
Acetyl-CoA: An intermediate in energy metabolism, produced from the breakdown of free fatty
acids, glucose and protein.
Adenosine Diphosphate: The by-product of the breakdown of adenosine triphosphate.
Adenosine Monophosphate: The by-product of the breakdown of adenosine diphosphate.
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP): The principle form of stored energy in the body. Composed of an
adenosine molecule and three phosphate molecules.
Amino acids (AAs): The building blocks of proteins of which there are 20.
Anabolic: A general term which refers to the building of larger substances from smaller
substances.
Branch chain amino acids (BCAAs): The amino acids valine, leucine, and isoleucine.
Carbohydrate (CHO): Organic substances made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, which
provide energy to the body.
Carnitine Palmityl Transferase 1 (CPT-1): Carries free fatty acids into the mitochondria of cells
for burning.
Catabolic: A general term which refers to the breaking down of larger substances into smaller
substances.
Cholesterol: A steroid compound most often associated with triglycerides. Cholesterol is used in
the body for the synthesis of cell membranes.
Cyclical ketogenic diet (CKD): A diet which alternates periods of ketosis with periods of high
carbohydrate intake.
De Novo Lipogenesis (DNL): A process by which excess carbohydrate is converted to
triglycerides in the liver.
Diabetic ketoacidosis: A potentially fatal condition occurring only in Type 1 (insulin dependent)
diabetics as a consequence of high blood glucose but low insulin concentrations.
Fat mass (FM): Bodyfat stored in adipose tissue under the skin.
Glucagon: A hormone released from the pancreas which raises blood glucose when it drops too
low.
Glucose: A single chain carbohydrate molecule, found circulating in the bloodstream.
Gluconeogenesis: An anabolic process where amino acids, lactate, pyruvate and glycerol are
converted into glucose in the liver.
Glycogen: A storage form of carbohydrates in the body, found in muscle and liver.
Glycogenesis: An anabolic process where glucose is formed into glycogen. This occurs in muscle