Latest revision as of 14:30, 21 June 2017

An important aspect of the Ketogenic Diet is knowing how high your ketone levels are. There are three types of Ketones; beta-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB) which is measured in the blood, acetoacetate (AcAc) which is typically measured in the urine, and acetone which is typically measured in the breath.

• Measuring Acetone in the breath is becoming a good option, and I believe that this is probably the future of ketone measurement. It's an area of rapid development, and it was not available when I performed my Ketogenic Experiment, so I'm still gathering data.
• Measuring BOHB is the most accurate, and it's now practical at home using a similar technique to measuring blood glucose, but it's really expensive at several dollars per test.
• The easiest and cheapest technique is to measure AcAc in the urine using a test strip. However, this approach is too inaccurate to be useful.

1 Measuring Acetone

Main article: Breath Acetone Meters

Acetone levels correlate well with body fat loss^[1], but are also elevated by the Ketogenic Diet^[2], MCT ^[3] intake, and exercise^[4] even in the absence of weight loss. One study found that a one pound (0.5 Kg) per week fat loss correlated with 1.7 PPM of acetone (67 nmol/L). Each ~40% increase in breath acetone was an additional ∼0.5 Lb (250g) of weekly fat loss^[5].

Breath acetone against average weight loss

Breath acetone correlates well (though not linearly) with blood (BOHB) ketone levels^[5]. This makes it useful for monitoring the progression of a ketogenic diet, as well as for measuring weight loss. The formula below was developed based on 12 adults consuming Ketogenic meals over a short period^[6]:

For Breath Acetone (BrAce) in mmol/L:
BOHB = 0.11 * BrAce0.47 - 0.18

Note that the relationship is far from exact (r=0.5 or so.)

The relationship between breath acetone and blood BOHB from multiple studies.

Breath acetone levels can vary dramatically, with healthy individuals on a regular diet having less than 1 PPM (parts per million) to 1,250 PPM in patients suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis^[7], which is an extremely dangerous medical condition. The diagram below shows some typical ranges. (As far as I can tell, for acetone, 1 ppm is 39.7 nmon/L.)

Ranges of breath acetone for different populations.

The charts below show the results of 12 people who consumed for ketogenic meals every three hours following an initial 12 hour fast^[6]. You can see a distinct spike in blood BOHB levels at four, seven, and 10 hours, representing the rise in blood ketones and an hour after each of the meals. The blood AcAc levels rise at four hours and 10 hours, but the pattern is not quite so distinctive. By comparison, breath acetone responds more smoothly, and is less responsive to the changes in BOHB and AcAc. This makes sense given that AcAc decomposes spontaneously to acetone with a half-life of about 12 hours^[8], though enzyme activity may dramatically speed this up^[9]. Overall, this is a good indication that breath acetone is a viable way of evaluating underlying blood ketone levels.

The ketone levels in subjects after a 12 hour fast, followed by four ketogenic meals every 3 hours starting at time zero.

Breath Acetone may respond more slowly than blood BOHB to a reduction in ketone levels, but I've found no clear research that tracks both together. One study found levels remained steady for an hour after a high protein meal then dropped over the next 5 hours^[10].

Breath acetone after a high protein meal following a 12 hour fast.

The nearest comparison I could find used a high carbohydrate meal rather than high protein, which would result in a faster rise in blood sugar & insulin compared with high protein. It also used a low carbohydrate diet rather than a fast and is on diabetic patients^[11]. This makes it a poor comparison, but shows that in principle at least, breath acetone may be slower to respond than blood BOHB.

Change in blood BOHB after a high carb meal (black squares; open squares are low carb meal.

1.1 Breathing Patterns And Acetone

Acetone is exchanged mostly in the airways, not the alveoli (the tiny air sacs of the lungs)^[12][13][14], so your breathing pattern will have a big impact on the acetone concentration in your breath^[15][16]:

• A normal, resting breath (called a tidal breath) will result in only about two thirds the maximum acetone concentration.
• A full breath, breathing in deeply and fully exhaling will result in ~85% of maximum acetone concentration but only at the end of the breath.
• Breathing in and out of a bag for six breaths results in the maximum acetone concentration and the best repeatability. Of course, this is the most uncomfortable method.
• Breath holding for over 60 seconds has no impact on breath acetone concentration.

2 Measuring beta-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB)

BOHB is measured in the blood using a small meter similar to a Blood Glucose Meter. A test strip is placed in the meter and a drop of blood is added. After a few seconds, the meter will indicate the level of Ketones. There are two meters on the market in the US, the Nova Max and the Precision Xtra.

• The ketone test strips for Nova Max are cheaper (around $27 for 10 strips), but less accurate and there tend to be a high number of 'bad' test strips. Error: Could not parse data from Amazon!.
• The ketone test strips for the Precision Xtra are far more expensive (around $58 for 10 strips), but better quality. Error: Could not parse data from Amazon!.
• The best option I've found is to order the Precision Xtra strips from Canada for $23 for 10 strips. I've ordered from the Ketone Strips from Universal Drugstore many times and I've been pleased with their service. It takes a couple of weeks for delivery, and shipping is $7. Another option is Ebay and search for "Abbott Freestyle Optium ketone", which are from Australia and cost nearer $1/strip.
• You have to draw a drop of blood for this testing, and I'd recommend the Owen Mumford Advanced Lancing Device Error: Could not parse data from Amazon!. It's not much less painful than other lancing devices, but every bit helps. I also use the narrow (33) gauge BD Ultra-Fine Lancets Error: Could not parse data from Amazon!.

3 Measuring Acetoacetate (AcAc)

AcAc is typically measured in the urine using a test strip, which check for 10 different things in addition to AcAc, including trace blood, hydration status and urine acidity. (It's important to test for trace blood in your urine if you're on the ketogenic diet to detect Kidney Stones early.) The test strips are cheap, costing around $0.20 each. Error: Could not parse data from Amazon!. However, AcAc levels tend to correspond poorly to blood ketone levels. During Ketoadaptation, I've found urine levels can be 4x higher than blood ketone levels, but after adaptation the urine levels tend to drop much lower. Hydration status also greatly affects urine ketone levels, and of the levels you're detecting are based on the urine produced since you last emptied your bladder, so they can be quite delayed. See below for a more detailed look at the problems with measuring urine ketones.

4 My Results

I measured my blood BOHB, urine AcAc (using (KetoAnalysis), and my blood glucose. The charts below show the relationship between the values, with the regression line in blue and the 95% confidence intervals shaded. As you can see, for my readings there is better correlation between blood glucose and blood BOHB than there is to urine AcAc. I tried adjusting for hydration using the Urine Specific Gravity values from the test strips, but this made little difference to the correlation. Multiple regression of blood glucose and urine AcAc to blood BOHB did improve the model to r²=0.73.

My blood BOHB against my urine AcAc levels. r2 is 0.43, p < 0.001.

My blood BOHB against my blood glucose levels. r2 is 0.68, p < 0.001

5 Problems with Measuring Urine Ketones

In the past the only viable method of measuring Ketones was to use a Urine dipstick, but this is too inaccurate to be useful.

• Urine dipsticks require you to match the color of the test strip against reference patches, so it is not particularly precise. Using image analysis (KetoAnalysis) can help somewhat. (The test strips use a nitroprusside reagent which changes color from pink to maroon. The addition of hydrogen peroxide does not improve the ability of the urine tests to detect BOHB^[17].)
• Worse, there is evidence that the values read from urine dipsticks overestimate the level of ketones in the urine. A study that compared the values from Ketostix with an enzymatic test found the formula "urinary acetoacetate = 0.40(dipstick value) + 0.15" would help correct the overestimation^[6].
  

  The level of AcAc in the urine is not accurately measured using dipsticks.
• To compound matters further, urine levels do not reflect blood levels of AcAc very well.
  • High level of hydration will dilute urine ketone levels^[18].
  • Kidney function can change the urine levels^[19] as the kidney will reabsorb AcAc^[20]. With starvation ketosis, the kidneys increase the reabsorption over time, with one study showing a progression of AcAc reabsorption from 47 (+/-10) mumoles/min on day 3 to 106 (+/-15) on day 10, 89 (+/-10) on day 17 and 96 (+/-10) on day 24^[21]. Most studies demonstrate no maximum reabsorption rate^[22][21].
  • There is also a time delay if the blood levels are changing, this will not be reflected in the urine levels immediately^[19].
  • A study indicated that the level of urine AcAc and blood AcAc vary in a non-linear manner, following the equation "y = 0.3x^0.6 + 0.07" (after correction), but r² was only 0.59 ^[6].
    

    The levels of AcAc in the blood and urine follow a non-linear relationship.
• Further problems arise because the levels of AcAc can be quite different to BOHB levels, as shown below. A study of children using the Ketogenic Diet for epilepsy showed that when blood BOHB levels are over 2 mmol/l, urine AcAc dipsticks indicate levels of 80-160 mmol/l^[23].

Changes in blood ketone levels during progressive starvation^[24].

• Finally, false positives can occur for a number of reasons.
  • Pigmented urine^[25] (trace level only).
  • Vitamin C^[26].
  • Low urine pH (acidic)^[27].
  • Increased urine specific gravity^[27][26].
  • Phenolphthalein (a laxative used in many preparations under various trade names)^[27].
  • The amino acid L-dopa^[27].
  • Drugs, including
    • Drugs Levodopa, Bendopa, Brocadopa, Larodopa (all used to treat Parkinson's disease)^[27][26].
    • Glucocorticoids^[26].
  • Fever or burns^[28].

6 See Also

• The classifications and types of Low Carbohydrate Diet.
• An introduction to the Ketogenic Diet.
• My experiences with ultrarunning on the Ketogenic Diet
  • How the Ketogenic Diet can be used for the treatment and management of disease.
    • Using the Ketogenic Diets to mitigate and treat Epilepsy
    • How Ketogenic Diets might help with Cancer
    • A look at the possible mechanisms of action of the Ketogenic Diet
  • Health Risks of the Ketogenic Diet
    • Health Checks for the Ketogenic Diet
    • Supplements for the Ketogenic Diet
  • The time frame and changes that occur with Ketoadaptation
  • What are Ketones
    • How to measure Ketones
    • What ketone levels to aim for
  • The pros and cons of the Ketogenic Diet for athletes
    • The Science of Ketogenic Exercise
  • The Types of Ketogenic Diet
    • The "traditional" Ketogenic Diet based on the Ketogenic Ratio
      • The ways the Ketogenic Ratio can be calculated
        • The different definitions of Net Carbohydrates
    • Low Glycemic Index Treatment
    • MCT Diet
      • MCT
    • Modified Atkins Diet (M.A.D.)
• My Ketogenic Recipes
• Non-Ketogenic Low Carbohydrate Diets

7 References

1. ↑ SK. Kundu, JA. Bruzek, R. Nair, AM. Judilla, Breath acetone analyzer: diagnostic tool to monitor dietary fat loss., Clin Chem, volume 39, issue 1, pages 87-92, Jan 1993, PMID 8419065
2. ↑ MP. Kalapos, On the mammalian acetone metabolism: from chemistry to clinical implications., Biochim Biophys Acta, volume 1621, issue 2, pages 122-39, May 2003, PMID 12726989
3. ↑ G. Freund, RL. Weinsier, Standardized ketosis in man following medium chain triglyceride ingestion., Metabolism, volume 15, issue 11, pages 980-91, Nov 1966, PMID 5922367
4. ↑ H. Sasaki, S. Ishikawa, H. Ueda, Y. Kimura, Acetone Response during Graded and Prolonged Exercise, volume 0, 2011, pages 119–124, doi 10.1159/000321951
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Joseph C. Anderson, Measuring breath acetone for monitoring fat loss: Review, Obesity, volume 23, issue 12, 2015, pages 2327–2334, ISSN 19307381, doi 10.1002/oby.21242
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} K. Musa-Veloso, SS. Likhodii, SC. Cunnane, Breath acetone is a reliable indicator of ketosis in adults consuming ketogenic meals., Am J Clin Nutr, volume 76, issue 1, pages 65-70, Jul 2002, PMID 12081817
7. ↑ M.J. Sulway, J.M. Malins, ACETONE IN DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS, The Lancet, volume 296, issue 7676, 1970, pages 736–740, ISSN 01406736, doi 10.1016/S0140-6736(70)90218-7
8. ↑ RW Hay, MA Bond, Kinetics of the Decarboxylation of Acetoacetic acid, Australian Journal of Chemistry, volume 20, issue 9, 1967, pages 1823, ISSN 0004-9425, doi 10.1071/CH9671823
9. ↑ Marion H. O'Leary, Richard L. Baughn, Acetoacetate decarboxylase. Identification of the rate-determining step in the primary amine catalyzed reaction and in the enzymic reaction, Journal of the American Chemical Society, volume 94, issue 2, 1972, pages 626–630, ISSN 0002-7863, doi 10.1021/ja00757a051
10. ↑ D. Smith, P. Spanel, S. Davies, Trace gases in breath of healthy volunteers when fasting and after a protein-calorie meal: a preliminary study., J Appl Physiol (1985), volume 87, issue 5, pages 1584-8, Nov 1999, PMID 10562594
11. ↑ H. Haimoto, T. Sasakabe, H. Umegaki, K. Wakai, Acute metabolic responses to a high-carbohydrate meal in outpatients with type 2 diabetes treated with a low-carbohydrate diet: a crossover meal tolerance study., Nutr Metab (Lond), volume 6, pages 52, Dec 2009, doi 10.1186/1743-7075-6-52, PMID 20040075
12. ↑ JC. Anderson, AL. Babb, MP. Hlastala, Modeling soluble gas exchange in the airways and alveoli., Ann Biomed Eng, volume 31, issue 11, pages 1402-22, Dec 2003, PMID 14758930
13. ↑ AC. Schrikker, WR. de Vries, A. Zwart, SC. Luijendijk, The excretion of highly soluble gases by the lung in man., Pflugers Arch, volume 415, issue 2, pages 214-9, Nov 1989, PMID 2556686
14. ↑ AC. Schrikker, WR. de Vries, A. Zwart, SC. Luijendijk, Uptake of highly soluble gases in the epithelium of the conducting airways., Pflugers Arch, volume 405, issue 4, pages 389-94, Dec 1985, PMID 4080516
15. ↑ JC. Anderson, WJ. Lamm, MP. Hlastala, Measuring airway exchange of endogenous acetone using a single-exhalation breathing maneuver., J Appl Physiol (1985), volume 100, issue 3, pages 880-9, Mar 2006, doi 10.1152/japplphysiol.00868.2005, PMID 16282431
16. ↑ Pritam Sukul, Phillip Trefz, Jochen K Schubert, Wolfram Miekisch, Immediate effects of breath holding maneuvers onto composition of exhaled breath, Journal of Breath Research, volume 8, issue 3, 2014, pages 037102, ISSN 1752-7155, doi 10.1088/1752-7155/8/3/037102
17. ↑ Silas W. Smith, Alex F. Manini, Tibor Szekely, Robert S. Hoffman, Bedside Detection of Urine β-Hydroxybutyrate in Diagnosing Metabolic Acidosis, Academic Emergency Medicine, volume 15, issue 8, 2008, pages 751–756, ISSN 10696563, doi 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2008.00175.x
18. ↑ Eric. Kossoff, Ketogenic diets : treatments for epilepsy and other disorders, date 2011, publisher Demos Health, location New York, isbn 1-936303-10-8, Kindle Offset 2035
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1} L. Laffel, Ketone bodies: a review of physiology, pathophysiology and application of monitoring to diabetes., Diabetes Metab Res Rev, volume 15, issue 6, pages 412-26, PMID 10634967
20. ↑ RD. Galvin, JA. Harris, RE. Johnson, Urinary excretion of beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate during experimental ketosis., Q J Exp Physiol Cogn Med Sci, volume 53, issue 2, pages 181-93, Apr 1968, PMID 5185570
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1} DG. Sapir, OE. Owen, Renal conservation of ketone bodies during starvation., Metabolism, volume 24, issue 1, pages 23-33, Jan 1975, PMID 234169
22. ↑ KE. Wildenhoff, Tubular reabsorption and urinary excretion of acetoacetate and 3-hydroxybutyrate in normal subjects and juvenile diabetics., Acta Med Scand, volume 201, issue 1-2, pages 63-7, Jan 1977, PMID 835373
23. ↑ DL. Gilbert, PL. Pyzik, JM. Freeman, The ketogenic diet: seizure control correlates better with serum beta-hydroxybutyrate than with urine ketones., J Child Neurol, volume 15, issue 12, pages 787-90, Dec 2000, PMID 11198492
24. ↑ George F. Cahill, Fuel Metabolism in Starvation, Annual Review of Nutrition, volume 26, issue 1, 2006, pages 1–22, ISSN 0199-9885, doi 10.1146/annurev.nutr.26.061505.111258
25. ↑ Urine Dipstick Analysis, http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/urine-dipstick-analysis, Accessed on 9 January 2014
26. ↑ ^{26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3} http://sensorhealth.com/UrineStripFalsePositive-NegativeCauses.pdf Urine Strip False Positive-Negative Causes
27. ↑ ^{27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4} http://www.drsperoni.com/downloads/articles/Urinalysis_Results_Interpretation.pdf Urinalysis Results Interpretation
28. ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003585.htm Medline Plus Ketones - urine