Question

Which of the following diets is likely to lead to an increase in ketone body utilization by the brain?

A diet contains equal amounts of fat and proteins

A diet mostly contains carbohydrates

A diet mostly contains fat

A diet contains a balanced amount of fat, protein, and carbohydrate

Answer 1

In this context, the ketone bodies are fatty acids soluble in water which are able to serve as energy source in absence of a source of glucose. Of course, proteins and fats can be used in absence of carbohydrates to produce energy or initiation gluconeogenesis. However, most of the fatty acids released from the adipose tissue are in complex with albumin, inhibiting its processing and lacking the production of glucose. Proteins are also used to as precursors in gluconeogenesis. So, a diet with fat and proteins would prevent that kenotic bodies were used by the brain because the protein can be used as precursor for carbohydrates. On the other hand, a diet composed mostly by fat will promote the ketone bodies utilization by the brain. The correct answer is A diet mostly contains fat