Diet-induced Ketoacidosis in a Non-diabetic: A Case Report

A Case of Severe Metabolic Acidosis in the Setting of a Strict Ketogenic Diet

Patients with metabolic acidosis often present with obscure, multifactorial etiologies, making efficient diagnosis and treatment key to preventing poor clinical outcomes. This case report describes a patient with severe metabolic acidosis in which the underlying cause was not immediately apparent. After a thorough work-up and history taking, the patient's strict ketogenic diet was identified as the most likely source of his illness. Over multiple days, the patient improved as he resumed a normal diet and was treated for refeeding syndrome. This case highlights the importance of taking a comprehensive social and diet history when assessing a patient with metabolic acidosis. It also highlights the need for physicians to understand and be ready to counsel on the possible effects of fad diets, such as the ketogenic diet.

Low carbohydrate intake correlates with trends of insulin resistance and metabolic acidosis in healthy lean individuals

Introduction

Both obesity and a poor diet are considered major risk factors for triggering insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Owing to the impact of low-carbohydrate diets, such as the keto diet and the Atkins diet, on weight loss in individuals with obesity, these diets have become an effective strategy for a healthy lifestyle. However, the impact of the ketogenic diet on IRS in healthy individuals of a normal weight has been less well researched. This study presents a cross-sectional observational study that aimed to investigate the effect of low carbohydrate intake in healthy individuals of a normal weight with regard to glucose homeostasis, inflammatory, and metabolic parameters.

Methods

The study included 120 participants who were healthy, had a normal weight (BMI 25 kg/m2), and had no history of a major medical condition. Self-reported dietary intake and objective physical activity measured by accelerometry were tracked for 7 days. The participants were divided into three groups according to their dietary intake of carbohydrates: the low-carbohydrate (LC) group (those consuming <45% of their daily energy intake from carbohydrates), the recommended range of carbohydrate (RC) group (those consuming 45-65% of their daily energy intake from carbohydrates), and the high-carbohydrate (HC) group (those consuming more than 65% of their daily energy intake from carbohydrates). Blood samples were collected for the analysis of metabolic markers. HOMA of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and HOMA of β-cell function (HOMA-β), as well as C-peptide levels, were used for the evaluation of glucose homeostasis.

Results

Low carbohydrate intake (<45% of total energy) was found to significantly correlate with dysregulated glucose homeostasis as measured by elevations in HOMA-IR, HOMA-β% assessment, and C-peptide levels. Low carbohydrate intake was also found to be coupled with lower serum bicarbonate and serum albumin levels, with an increased anion gap indicating metabolic acidosis. The elevation in C-peptide under low carbohydrate intake was found to be positively correlated with the secretion of IRS-related inflammatory markers, including FGF2, IP-10, IL-6, IL-17A, and MDC, but negatively correlated with IL-3.

Discussion

Overall, the findings of the study showed that, for the first time, low-carbohydrate intake in healthy individuals of a normal weight might lead to dysfunctional glucose homeostasis, increased metabolic acidosis, and the possibility of triggering inflammation by C-peptide elevation in plasma.

Disturbed Cardiac Metabolism Triggers Atrial Arrhythmogenesis in Diabetes Mellitus: Energy Substrate Alternate as a Potential Therapeutic Intervention

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of sustained arrhythmia in diabetes mellitus (DM). Its morbidity and mortality rates are high, and its prevalence will increase as the population ages. Despite expanding knowledge on the pathophysiological mechanisms of AF, current pharmacological interventions remain unsatisfactory; therefore, novel findings on the underlying mechanism are required. A growing body of evidence suggests that an altered energy metabolism is closely related to atrial arrhythmogenesis, and this finding engenders novel insights into the pathogenesis of the pathophysiology of AF. In this review, we provide comprehensive information on the mechanistic insights into the cardiac energy metabolic changes, altered substrate oxidation rates, and mitochondrial dysfunctions involved in atrial arrhythmogenesis, and suggest a promising advanced new therapeutic approach to treat patients with AF.

Changes in Body Weight, Dysglycemia, and Dyslipidemia After Moderately Low-Carbohydrate Diet Education (LOCABO Challenge Program) Among Workers in Japan

PURPOSE

It is theorized that the prevalence of obesity has not decreased owing to poor adherence to implemented programs addressing metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes in Japan. Therefore, we intended to evaluate the influence of a moderately low-carbohydrate diet on improving markers of metabolic syndrome among workers in Japan.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Participants with metabolic syndrome or obesity were recruited based on the eligibility criteria for the Specific Health Guidance program and educated on a moderately low-carbohydrate diet between spring 2016 and fall 2018. The participants were then made to report their food intake and body weight once a week for the next 12 weeks and were counselled on maintaining a moderately low-carbohydrate diet. HbA1c levels, lipid profile, body weight, and sleep quality were evaluated. The normality of the data was evaluated using the Skewness/Kurtosis test. Each variable was compared before and after the intervention using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Further, a subgroup analysis of the data from the participants whose variables were abnormal at baseline was performed.

RESULTS

Among the 101 enrolled participants, a decrease in the median weight (from 82.5 to 79.7 kg, p<0.001, n=46), body mass index (from 27.3 to 26.9 kg/m², p<0.001, n=46), and apnea-hypopnea index (from 24.1 to 17.1, p<0.01, n=39) was observed. Subgroup analysis of participants with abnormal baseline values revealed changes in HbA1c (from 6.7% to 5.8%, p<0.001, n=34), total cholesterol (from 220 to 209 mg/dL, p<0.01, n=54), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (from 133 to 120 mg/dL, p<0.001, n=31), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (from 35 to 40 mg/dL, p<0.01, n=31), triglycerides (from 242 to 190 mg/dL, p<0.01, n=57), and deep sleep percentage (from 10.4% to 18.2%, p<0.05, n=7).

CONCLUSION

A moderately low-carbohydrate diet may be considered a potential intervention for improving the markers of metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes.