Studies on the acetonuria produced by diets high in fat

Abstract

The following ratio was suggested to express the ketogenic balance of any diet:

This ratio is based on the relative molecular weights of glucose and the higher fatty acids—stearic, palmitic, and oleic; in it it is assumed that approximately half the glucose derived from protein is used up in burning the ketogenic material from the αamino acids leucine, tyrosine and phenyl alanin occurring in the same protein; no allowance is made in the expression for the possible antiketogenic effect of the glycerol radicle present in the fats.

Diets high in fat were fed to a normal subject, and to arthritic patients undergoing the Pemberton 1 treatment. These diets were based on that suggested by Shaffer 2 which contained 10 per cent. of the total calories as protein, 10 per cent. as carbohydrate, and 80 per cent. as fat. The degree of acetonuria which corresponded with each diet was determined, and the results compared with the numerical values of this ratio.

From a study of these values which corresponded with a very mild degree of acetonuria it was concluded: one, that the phenomenon of ketogenesis could properly be regarded as a molecular reaction between ketogenic and antiketogenic compounds in the diet; two, that protein entered into the reaction only to the extent of the glucose which could be drived from the α-amino acids contained in it; three, that the glycerol radicle of fat figured as a source of antiketogenic material only to the extent to which glucose could be derived from it; and, probably, four, that the glycerol radicle probably did figure as a source of antiketogenic material to the extent to which it could yield glucose.