title: Urinary ketones reflect serum ketone concentration but do not relate to weight loss in overweight premenopausal women following a low-carbohydrate/high-protein diet.
abstract: This study examined the effect of a low-carbohydrate/high-protein diet on serum and urine ketone body concentrations. Thirteen overweight premenopausal women aged 32 to 45 years consumed < or =20 g carbohydrate/day with liberal intakes of protein and fat for 2 weeks; thereafter, carbohydrate intake increased 5 g/week for 10 weeks. Women were weighed and provided fasting urine and blood samples to detect urinary ketones and quantify serum ketone concentrations, respectively, at baseline and weeks 1 to 4, 6, and 12. Women lost 8.3%+/-2.8% of initial body weight by week 12. Serum beta-hydroxybutyrate production was highest at week 1 and declined weekly, with all values higher than baseline (P <.05). Each week, serum beta-hydroxybutyrate was correlated with presence of urinary ketones (P <.05), but no relationship was found between weekly weight change and serum ketone production. Urinary ketones are detected in premenopausal women complying with a low-carbohydrate/high-protein diet and are associated with serum ketone concentration. However, serum ketones do not reflect weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Macromolecular Interfaces with Life Sciences program, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State university, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0430, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Dean
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Sharon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nickols-Richardson
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007657:Ketone Bodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy*; D017697:Premenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D007657:Ketone Bodies; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid