How Insulin Blocks Ketone Production in Humans
Fatty acid-independent inhibition of hepatic ketone body production by insulin in humans.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Researchers gave healthy people extra fats (Intralipid) and measured how much ketone bodies their livers produced. They tested different combinations of insulin and fat levels to see how each hormone affects ketone production.
Surprising Findings
Glucagon elevation had NO effect on total ketone production
Many assume glucagon (the 'fat-burning' hormone) directly stimulates ketone production, but this study shows it doesn't significantly impact total ketogenesis in humans.
Practical Takeaways
To maximize ketone production, focus on lowering insulin through diet (low-carb), fasting, or exercise rather than just eating more fat
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Researchers gave healthy people extra fats (Intralipid) and measured how much ketone bodies their livers produced. They tested different combinations of insulin and fat levels to see how each hormone affects ketone production.
Surprising Findings
Glucagon elevation had NO effect on total ketone production
Many assume glucagon (the 'fat-burning' hormone) directly stimulates ketone production, but this study shows it doesn't significantly impact total ketogenesis in humans.
Practical Takeaways
To maximize ketone production, focus on lowering insulin through diet (low-carb), fasting, or exercise rather than just eating more fat
Publication
Journal
The American journal of physiology
Year
1988
Authors
U. Keller, P. P. Gerber, W. Stauffacher
Related Content
Claims (6)
When healthy adults haven't eaten overnight and have low insulin levels, having higher levels of fatty acids in their blood (about double the normal amount) makes their liver produce more than twice as many ketone bodies - the molecules your body makes when breaking down fat for energy.
When insulin levels get really high in the blood (around 110 units), it strongly stops the liver from making ketone bodies (which the body makes when breaking down fats), cutting the production rate by more than half in healthy people.
When both fat and insulin levels are low, the liver makes very few ketones - this finding is from an abstract summary and full study details were not available
When doctors raise a hormone called glucagon in healthy people's blood by giving them fatty acids, it doesn't change how much ketone (a chemical the liver makes) their bodies produce.
When healthy adults have high levels of a hormone called glucagon in their blood, it causes a change in the balance of two specific ketone bodies (beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate) during a fat infusion procedure.