USING PRUVIT KETONE
SALTS IN THE ELDERLY AND PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS
by Mary T. Newport,
M.D.
I
receive emails and Facebook messages from many people who are using or want to
use ketone salts for themselves or their loved ones, many of whom are elderly
or may have medical conditions and want to make their life better. Here is some guidance for how to get started
with ketone salts:
HOW KETONES COULD HELP
Pruvit
ketone salts are nutritional supplements and have not been evaluated or
approved by the FDA to treat any medical condition. On the other hand, there is plenty of
scientific evidence that raising ketones can provide alternative fuel to the
brain, reduce inflammation, and burn fat.
Many people report increased energy, endurance, focus and mental clarity,
improved mood and sleep, fewer aches and pains, and fat loss.
TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR
As with
any nutritional supplement, it is important for elderly people and people with
medical conditions to consult with their physician before using ketone salts. The doctor could monitor your blood pressure
and check blood levels of electrolytes, glucose and minerals (calcium, phosphorus,
magnesium) before you get started and after 3 to 6 weeks or so. Pruvit ketone salts are the first product
marketed widely to the public that contains the actual ketone body betahydroxybutyrate
attached to the mineral salts sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. Many people need to watch their sodium
intake, may be on diuretics that may cause loss of minerals from the body, and/or
may be taking potassium. Keto//OS 2.1
and 3.0 have 1400 mg to 1600 mg per serving packet (or full scoop if you have a
can of product). Keto//OS 3.0 (chocolate
swirl) also has 490 mg of potassium, compared to just 47 mg in Keto//OS 2.1
(orange dream).
Another
option to reduce sodium and potassium intake with ketone salts is to use
KetoMax, which contains much less sodium per full serving at 925 mg and minimal
potassium at 75 mg. Another great reason
to use KetoMax is that it contains a higher percentage of the circulating form
of betahydroxybutyrate and may be even more effective than Keto//OS. I recommend KetoMax especially for people
with medical and neurologic conditions such as Parkinson’s, dementia, and Alzheimer’s.
It costs more but the value is there. Your doctor or a dietician can help you
factor the mineral salts into your diet and adjust, for example, your potassium
supplement to account for the amounts in ketone salts.
People
with diabetes taking medications and/or insulin need to be aware that raising
ketone levels with ketone salts may result in a significantly lower blood sugar
along with a drop in the amount of insulin the body produces. To avoid abnormally
low blood sugar, I recommend that you monitor your blood sugar closely and work
with your doctor to make changes in your medications. Many diabetics report that they are able to
reduce their medications, including insulin, rather quickly over days to
several weeks, especially if using ketone salts is combined with a low
carbohydrate diet. Pruvit ketone salts contain minimal sugar and are sweetened
with stevia and/or erithritol, a sugar alcohol.
Regarding diabetic ketoacidosis,
this is an abnormal condition that occurs with very elevated blood sugar and
inadequate insulin. Levels of ketones
are many times (20 to 50 times higher) than the levels you would get by taking
a serving or two per day of ketone salts.
The risk is extremely low, but could be a problem for someone on the
brink of diabetic ketoacidosis. Ketone
levels can easily be monitored with a Precision Xtra or NovaMax glucose/ketone
monitor using ketone strips, available online without a prescription. Ketone salts usually produce betahydroxubutyrate
levels in the 0.5 to 2 mmol range, compared to 10 to 25 mmol in diabetic
ketoacidosis.
START SLOWLY AND INCREASE AS TOLERATED
While
it is tempting to start with a whole serving in hopes of seeing maximum
benefits right away, I recommend in elderly people and those with medical
conditions, to start with 1 or 2 level teaspoons per day, which would be equal
to about 1/8 to 1/4 of a serving, and if there is no issue, such as intestinal
distress, you could increase by the same amount every few days until arriving
at ½ to 1 full serving per day. The
total amount could be divided into smaller portions throughout the day.
Also,
it is very important that the person taking ketone salts take plenty of water
and other clear liquids. Ketone salts
can have a dehydrating effect in some people, especially in the beginning.
Ketones
can suppress appetite, which is great if you need to lose weight. If you are very thin you might consider
adding more calories to your diet with calorie dense foods such as coconut oil,
olive oil, butter, cream, avocado and nuts.
BRING THESE GUIDELINES TO YOUR DOCTOR
Ketone
salts are so new that most doctors don’t know about them yet much less the
potential of ketones to provide alternative fuel to the brain and other organs,
reduce inflammation, and burn fat. I
suggest that you take a copy of these guidelines to your doctor. Many doctors decide to pass this information
on to other patients when they see improvement in just one of their
patients. Some doctors may even decide
to help their patients by providing ketone salts as samples or ordering them
through their office.
Labels: AD, Alzheimer, caregivers, coconut, coconut oil, dementia, diabetes, ketogenic diet, ketone, ketone salts, MCT oil, ms, parkinson's, Pruvit, traumatic brain injury
