shortness of breath while in ketosis?

Does anybody ele experience shortness of breath while in ketosis?

I have the last two times i tried the diet. As soon as i get back on a mod carb approach it goes away. its really stressing me out feeling like i cant breathe all day. I am not anemic and have 98-99% blood oxygen level.

is this common?

#2   08-05-2009, 11:23 AM

lylemcd Administrator   Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 19,795

First time I've heard of it. There is some loss of ketones and there was some weird data point (I'm going to forget the details) where resting RQ (a measure of fuel utilization) ould drop below 0.7 due to something related to extra CO2 being lost or some such. But I refer you to the parable of "Doc it hurts when I do this."

#3   08-05-2009, 11:34 AM

bretter Junior Member   Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 24

I finished carbing up sunday and I'm within a pound of baseline this morning.it is a symptom of ketoacidosis should I be concerned? Really enjoyed ur book btw.

#4   08-05-2009, 11:40 AM

lylemcd Administrator   Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 19,795

No, ketoacidosis doesn't develop in non-diabetics. Again, the details are hazy, it had something to do with how ketones are handled in the body and maybe a loss of base or something, it's been too many years and I never paid much attention to it. If it's causing problems, I'd say to continue dieting with a moderate carb non-keto diet (e.g. carbs around 1 g/lb bodyweight or 120-150 grams minimum) to avoid the issue entirely. Still low enough for various benefits, high enough to avoid ketosis, etc, etc.

#5   08-05-2009, 12:09 PM

ragiarn Member   Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Connecticut Posts: 49

Ketoacidosis occurs in diabetics because there is not enough glucose within the cell mitochondria to allow the entry of the ketone bodies into the krebs cycle. Ketones are the result of partial metabolism of fat and requires the Krebs cycle to complete the total metobolism. The Krebs cycle needs glucose to keep it going. As the saying goes"Fat burns in the flame of glucose" (or something to that effect). As a result, in these diabetics, massive amount ketones enter the blood stream and overwhelm the buffering system of the blood. Despite the elevated blood glucose in diabetics ( most of these patients present with blood glucose levels in the range of 600-1400 mg/dl and blood pH as low as 7.1) the glucose is unable to enter the cell because of a lack of insulin. In non diabetics even on a low carb diet there is still enough glucose to run the krebs cycle. In low carb diets amino acids can, and often are, converted into glucose through gluconeogenesis to maintain a normal blood sugar level. Because insulin is still present the glucose can enter the cell and keep the krebs cycle going and thus prevent massive elevation of ketones and severe ketoacidosis. The buffering of the ketoacids is rather complicated since there are mulitple systems involved in this process. Many of these systems are compromised in diabetics and are not generally not a problem for an otherwise healthy person. This is a somewhat simplistic explanation of the process. For further clarification consutl with a bichemistry textbook. Ralph

#6   08-05-2009, 12:29 PM

lylemcd Administrator   Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 19,795

Or my first book. As well, in non-diabetics there are at least two failsafe systems to prevent runaway ketoacidosis First and foremost, when ketone concentrations get high enough, insulin is released, this shuts down FFA release from fat cells and ketone production in the liver. There'ss another one but the bottom line is that ketoacidosis in the sense of runaway ketone production as occurs in Type I diabetics, does NOT occur in non-diabetic humans. As long as there is some potential for insulin release, it won't ever get out of hand.

#7   08-05-2009, 02:33 PM

bretter Junior Member   Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 24

i think im going to throw in some carbs instead of fats for a few of my meals thanks

#8   10-02-2009, 11:17 PM

shwi Junior Member   Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2

Quote: Originally Posted by bretter Does anybody ele experience shortness of breath while in ketosis? Yup, I've been doing a CKD for a few weeks now and I've definitely noticed a shortness of breath at times. I put it down to a loss in my cardiovascular fitness due to a decrease in the amount of cardio I've been doing. I realise I'm probably wrong.

#9   09-01-2010, 04:43 PM

Aminal Member   Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 80

Bump from the grave, but I searched and this was the only place on here I could find this, sorry if it's been discussed again. I am doing RFL (5 days now) and now seem to be experiencing the joys of ketosis (amongst other things). I am noticably short of breath but surprisingly energetic. A quick google seems to reveal that shortness of breath is a recognised symptom of ketosis in some (and ketoacidosis of course). I'm hoping it will pass as I enter the second week. People keep asking me why I'm sighing Last edited by Aminal : 09-01-2010 at 04:45 PM.

#10   09-07-2010, 07:06 AM

bretter Junior Member   Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 24

I bulked and got on HRT for low testosterone and it went away. I think I dieted too long and hard. dont do what i did.