Glucose-Induced Transcriptional Hysteresis: Role in Obesity, Metabolic Memory, Diabetes, and Aging

(Todd Allen) #1

This paper discusses ideas which I think strongly support ketogenic diets and fasting.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5985453/

(Karen) #2

conclusion, these studies indicate that exposure to high levels of glucose over a relatively short period, or even normal levels of glucose over the lifespan, lead to persistent elevation of glycolysis. In turn, glycolysis could drive obesity and diabetes, by driving persistent elevation of insulin secretion leading to obesity and pancreatic burn-out. Similarly, persistently elevated glycolysis could drive diabetic complications and aging by increasing oxidative stress. However, it may be possible to reverse these effects by a ketogenic diet, which blocks and apparently even reverses molecular effects of glucose.

I like to think it is reversible with keto!

K

(Todd Allen) #3

What’s more is that consuming carbs causes epigenetic changes altering gene expression to a pattern where the body’s energy production is increasingly focused on carbs. And there is a stickiness to the changes, reducing carbs and achieving normal blood sugar isn’t sufficient to reverse those changes - a prolonged period of elevated ketones may be needed to restore metabolic flexibility.

(Karen) #4

Guess it depends on your body, but I wonder how long is long. 10 months keto here.

K

(Boston_guy) #5

Recently looked up “Hysteresis” after Robb Wolff used it in a talk – basically it’s the high and low value of a setpoint, like a thermosostat-

(karen) #6

That sounds reasonable - if the body believes that carbs are the primary (or at least most easily available) food source (or even if it sees them in their current quantity as almost a form of poison but the most pressing metabolic concern) and that’s reinforced over a lifetime, it would only make sense that it would focus on a carb-based metabolic pattern. I wonder … if our species had another 200,000 years, would we evolve to manage our huge carb loads?

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #7

“If”—the longest word in the English language.