Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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If vlc/ketogenic diets can cause physiological insulin resistance - then why are such diets helpful for Alzheimer's? My endo calls Alzheimer's insulin resistance of the brain. Don't know if he's correct but if he is -- wouldn't the physiological insulin resistance experienced by vlc/ketogenic dieters have to potential to create/worsen insulin resistance in the brain? I've been eating coconut oil for years for weight loss maintenance,energy and also to protect the brain as I thought the ketones coconut oil help generate were good for the brain. Thoughts?

flag	asked Sep 28 2011 at 4:23 Alexandra 2,467●6●18

	Please what is the source of the claim that "ketogenic diets can cause physiological insulin resistance"? And is such resistance temporal or long-term? I am asking because I just finished reading "The science and art of low carbohydrate living" and the authors reported, from observation in their clinic, that the insulin sensitivity was generally improved, not impaired (as you suggest). – greyman Sep 28 2011 at 8:54
	UPDATE: But those author talked about insulin resistance in general, not specifically about brain IR. – greyman Sep 28 2011 at 9:11
	Alexandra, physiologic IR is a healthy response to eating low carb. Pathological IR is the kind of insulin resistance that causes trouble. – PaleoGran Feb 12 2012 at 17:05

Primordial · Answer 1 · 2011-09-28 06:27:49Z UTC

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Ketogenic Diets change the energy supply from glucose to ketones in most part of the brain. Since in Alzheimer's often the cells are insulin resistant and cannot metabolize glucose, changing the fuel gives them the ability to get energy again. If you are on ketones, it doesn't matter if you're insulin resistant, afaik.

answered Sep 28 2011 at 6:27

Primordial
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That's true, but she claimed that VLC causes insulin resistance. What you seems to say is that if you already have Alzheimer, ketogenic diet can help fuel the brain. – greyman Sep 28 2011 at 8:58

Alexandra · Answer 2 · 2011-09-28 13:20:45Z UTC

Hi Greyman -- do a search on paleohacks (it's been discussed before) - I don't want to rehash. The physiological insulin resistance within the context of a very high fat, very low carb diet and normal blood glucose levels is an adaptation to the diet -- not the insulin resistance seen in overweight type 2s with high blood glucose. Ex: If you eat an apple after VLC for a long time -- your blood sugar will elevate higher and stay elevated longer than it would if you had been eating a high carb diet. Ugh -- I'm rehashing. My question was does this adaptive response affect the brain negatively but I think Primordial answered my question. Sorry if it sounded like I was criticizing vlc -- I wasn't --it's how I've eaten for years with no desire to change. There's Alzheimer's in my family so I wondered if the adaptive insulin resistance from vlc could negatively impact the brain. Just wondering.

VLC and Physiological Insulin Resistance and Impact on Brain

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