Ketogenic amino acids

[John Ellis]

How do I know which amino acids are ketogenic,etc.

[PrePgMedicos]

Ketogenic Amino Acids

They can produce ketones when energy sources are low. Some of these amino acids are degraded directly to ketone bodies such as acetoacetate.They include leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine.

The other ketogenic amino acids can be converted to acetyl CoA.They are Isoleucine and Threonine.

Acetyl CoA has several different fates, one of which is the conversion to acetoacetate.

Although not a preferential energy source, acetoacetate can be metabolized by the brain and muscle for energy when blood glucose is low. Acetoacetate cannot be used in gluconeogenesis, since acetyl CoA cannot be converted directly to oxaloacetate.

Courtesy: Google search and wikipedia