Gluconeogenesis

Gluconeogenesis is a metabolic process in which glucose is synthesized from non-carbohydrate precursors.

This is a key function of the body, allowing to maintain a normal level of glucose in the blood when glycogen stores in the liver and muscles are depleted or absent, for example, during fasting, prolonged physical exertion, or following low-carbohydrate diets, including the keto diet.

Gluconeogenesis occurs in several stages and involves the conversion of substances such as lactate, glycerol (a component of fats), and amino acids (building blocks of proteins) into glucose. The main organs where gluconeogenesis occurs are the liver and, to a lesser extent, the kidneys.

Importance of Gluconeogenesis in the Context of the Keto Diet

During the keto diet, in the absence of glucose from carbohydrates, the body starts actively using fats, converting them into ketone bodies for energy. However, some tissues, such as the brain, red blood cells, and kidneys, require glucose for normal function, even if the rest of the body is using ketone bodies.

At this point, gluconeogenesis plays an important role in providing these tissues with the necessary amount of glucose.

Thus, on the keto diet, the process of gluconeogenesis helps maintain the normal functioning of the body, even with carbohydrate restriction.

Benefits and Drawbacks in the Context of the Keto Diet

Benefits of gluconeogenesis:

• Maintaining blood glucose levels.
• Providing energy to glucose-dependent tissues.
• Aiding the transition of the body to using fats as the primary source of energy.

Drawbacks:

• Excessive protein consumption on the keto diet may lead to an excess of amino acids, which can potentially increase glucose production and potentially take the body out of ketosis.