Dear All,

Thanks for providing such great inputs and insights on this forum. I started IP diet on Jan 26th, and I have lost 25 lbs until now. While in a social gathering, a doctor said that ketosis can have a negative impact on the kidney and liver. I researched the internet, and there is no clear answer on how can I mitigate issues from Ketosis, and still stay on the diet. I will appreciate if you could share your views on this topic. Thanks, Rajat

I don't know much, but my understanding is that it's very important to drink LOTS of water.

My doctor recommended the diet to me. Perhaps it is a matter of weighing the risks vs. benefits. When he retired, his replacement did mention the kidney but I don't remember why. So far all my blood work shows kidneys and liver are doing fine. I'm thinking that this diet is easier on the body than the original Atkins because we are getting healthy carbs and vegees. I will see my doctor in a couple weeks and ask for a better explanation.

I too had this concern and couldn't find anything specific on it. But I did find that a ketogenic diet was prescribed to epilepsy patients before actual drugs were invented. Additionally during the reading of the Beck Diet Solution Dr Beck talks about her son having epilepsy and being on a ketogenic diet for years. Also found an article (don’t have it at work bookmarked) that was specifically about low carb diets wrote in the 1800's...note when I first wrote this post I thought it was one of Dr's Banting or Best...checked it out when I got home and I was wrong..sorry it wasn't wrote by one of them but it was in the 1800 on low carb and used at that time in relation to diabetes management.

I really think it's the water or lack thereof for damage to your kidneys (I'M NOT A DOCTOR) I have developed no thoughts on the liver portion...but since I didn't 'KNOW' I did go to my own MD. I’m in Canada and MD’s as far as I know aren’t giving this diet out in their clinics, I think chiropractors are but I get my coaching from random place that wouldn’t necessarily look like it had a ‘weight loss’ clinic in it.

So anyway, I laid out the entire diet and specifically talked about "ketosis" and "ketogenic diet". Then said I had some concerns about my kidneys and liver and asked if I should be worried. She didn't seem concerned. But I specifically asked for a blood work chit to check my liver and kidneys and asked that I could do that every three months. In fact, I asked if I could do it monthly and she said "no, every three months is ok" (she also kinda smiled at me here so she knew I was leery). Really, it is ME taking control of my life with HER help right?

I've been on the diet more than 10 months and every three months I get myself looked at and go visit her. I'm due again at the end of March. Last time we were there she was impressed and asked again to review what I was doing again and we ended up talking about recipes.

I feel I’ve made an informed choice about this diet and having her watching me makes me feel SO much better. I’d have hated to go more than 10 months without knowing if my blood was ok…:/.

Thanks so much for your replies. I will be getting my blood work done this Tuesday, and hopefully I will learn more and stay on the diet. I just noticed another change: loss of hair. I researched on the net and 3FC, and it seems that any drastic change in diet leads to hair loss, and probably i should be taking anti-oxidant, Omega 3 and Biotin (b-complex) tabs to mitigate the hair loss. I will start this week with the doses, and hopefully should start getting my hair back. Losing hair at age 32 seems a bit scary..

I noticed hair loss, brittle nails, and when I told my coach she said to supplement with 5,000 mg biotin. Before doing that I researched the web and found that the eye problems I was experiencing might also be from low biotin. In the afternoons my eyes would get bloodshot, eye lids red, and blurry vision.

As soon as i began taking biotin the eye problems went away and my scalp quit feeling tingly. Also, I began dropping weight much faster. Biotin aids in digestion and the breakdown of fats as well as carrying energy to the cells. I don't feel energetic but, I dropped 5 lbs this week. Weight loss does fluctuate even when you stay completely on protocol.

BTW, there isn't a test for low biotin. I read that they go by symptoms rather than testing. Lot's of people who aren't dieting take biotin for hair loss. I've read that after 6 months the hair is thicker.

I just had some blook work done last week.They wanted to check liver function and kidneys.

Ketosis is a safe state, and eating high protein (actually this diet is not high protein but moderate) has no problem to the kidneys function unless you have kidneys problem already.

Thanks everyone. Since I last posted, I have had my labs done, and everything seems to be fine. I have noticed hair loss, and I am taking b-complex tabs for biotin.

I started on Jan 26th, 2012, and since then I have lost 55 lbs..I am hoping to continue and lose the next 45 lbs soon

Huh, I wonder if my scalp getting flaky is a symptom from the low biotin...geez I don't want to be taking yet ANOTHER pill! I feel like a pharmacological rep as it is.

I have Lupus, and I've actually read studies on ketogenic diets being used to treat Lupus patients and to reverse kidney failure! I haven't seen any ill effects from being in ketosis, long term.

I too have had problems with my eyes but didn't think it could be the diet. Thanks for posting about your eyes skec14. I have dry eye as it is and have noticed it has been worse the last 2 weeks i have been on the diet.

5000 mg or 5000 mcg?

I definitely had hair loss last year when I lost most of my weight. It all grew back!
I also notice the dry eyes. I think I will get some biotin today. Do you get yours from ip?

I've been using Biotin for a few years becuase I have very thin hair. I get mine at a local health store, but I think I've seen on the boards that some people get theirs at Walmart.