Sport Low carb, glycogen, protein breakdown questions

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You know I've never read anything about brain performance on ketones, but I'd imagine it's near perfect. I know that the headaches occurring more often is medically documented but that's where it ends.

I think you've got it backwards. Some of the acetylCoA produced by fatty acid oxidation in the liver mitochondria is converted into acetone (note the 'sweet' breath sign of 'ketosis'), acetoacetate, and B-hydroxybutyrate; or ketone bodies. These ketone bodies are basically transportable fatty acids that the heart, muscle, and brain use when there's not much else. On the idea of being excreted in the urine, I think that's solely acetone. And I'm not 100% but I think it's because the conversion to acetone isn't an equilibrium, meaning it doesn't convert back into acetyCoA.
 
About the conversion back, they convert to ketone bodies because they're mostly made in the liver and transported where they need to go. Like I said, it's like a 'transportable fatty acid'.

And I'm unsure of how the pee stick works, but I'd imagine it measures acetone. That's the main test for ketosis/ketoacidosis is gas chromatography for acetone on breath.
 
so. Ketone bodies are produced from Acetyl CoA then used as energy in various parts of the body (do you know what the process where the ketones are broken down/converted/whatever into ATP is called?) after that they (except acetone) are converted back into AcetylCoA? That kinda makes no sense.. since then you would have an ever lasting energy source since that AcetylCoA could break down into ketones again continuing to supply the body with energy.. That is what is confusing to me.
 
It's not the breakdown of acetylCoA that yields the energy, it's the metabolism of acetylCoA to water and CO2. And once back to acetylCoA they metabolize just like it would if beta-oxidation was occurring (meaning you need mito). This is why some people argue about the brain not being fully supplied because of a lower ## of mito (I'm not personally a believer of this, as there is insufficient proof).
 
ACoA is converted to ketones so it can be transported to where it needs to be, then converted back into ACoA and used for energy through the crebs cycle?
that would make sense.. please say that is what happenes.. :p
 
Oh and the process would be the TCA cycle and then the high energy molecules enter the electron transport reaction.

EDIT: TCA = KREBS = CITRIC ACID CYCLE

^^ I have no idea why they don't pick one
 
That is correct! lol.. I've got a whole set of undergrad biochem notes that are a great reference if you want me to megaupload em..
 
that sounds like a whole bunch of trouble, so no need. Thanks for the help! I'll neg rep you, since you seem to be into that sort of thing :D
 
ask me what you didn't get. I'm good at dumbing things down :D
 
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