Question

You are on a diet and eating less than 50 grams of carbohydrate per day. The claim made in the diet educational materials is that carbohydrate is the main culprit in being overweight, so it must be restricted. Which of the following will happen as a result of this low carbohydrate diet?

a. Ketones will be produced from partial protein metabolism to be used for energy.
b. Fat will be broken down and used as the exclusive fuel, with little or no fat loss and little health risk.
c. Proteins in muscles, heart, and other vital organs will be broken down into amino acids to make needed glucose, over time weakening the muscles and organs.
d. Fat will not be broken down or effected.

Answer 1

On a low carbohydrate diet, initial energy is provided by stored glycogen. As this is depleted, fat is broken down for energy, causing ketone production. Prolonged carbohydrate restriction can lead to protein breakdown for gluconeogenesis, which can weaken muscles and organs.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you are on a low carbohydrate diet consuming less than 50 grams of carbs per day, several physiological changes can occur in your body. Initially, your body will utilize stored glycogen for energy. After glycogen stores are depleted, your body will begin to break down fat for energy, leading to the production of ketones. These ketones can be used by your heart and other organs as an alternative energy source.

As the low carbohydrate state persists, fatty acids are increasingly relied upon for energy, leading to further ketone production. In the absence of sufficient carbohydrates, the body can also convert amino acids from proteins into glucose through a process called gluconeogenesis. Initially, this will protect muscle mass, but if prolonged, the body may begin breaking down organ and muscle tissue for amino acids to sustain glucose production, which can lead to muscle wasting.

Therefore, the most likely option from the ones provided is that proteins in muscles, heart, and other vital organs will be broken down into amino acids to make needed glucose, potentially weakening muscles and organs over time (option c).

Answer 2

The correct answer is option C.

Explanation:

Low carbohydrate diets cause muscle loss that can lose the metabolism of an individual and can lead to more fat storage in the body. If an individual gets low carbs his body starts breaking fat but going below a specific limit of carbohydrate intake can cause hearing, organ and muscle weakening as the protein of these organs begins to breakdown to amino acids to provide much-needed glucose.

Carbohydrate has a sparring effect on the proteins that limit the muscle catabolism process which means it reduces the breakdown of protein into amino acid so low carbohydrate disease can cause the weakening of these muscles and organs.

Thus, the correct answer is option C.