CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/725202 filed November 12, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference.
Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to methods for determining the status of an animal's metabolism and particularly to methods for determining if an animal's metabolism is ketogenic.
Description of Related Art
[0003] The status of an animal's metabolism is often related to the animal's health. For example, a ketogenic diet is believed to be a valuable therapeutic approach for combating epilepsy and brain tumors. US20100310740A1 discloses ketogenic diets and methods for preparing such ketogenic diets. Similarly, ketogenic diets have been used to assist in the management of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Further, US8124589 discloses the use of ketogenic compounds for treatment of age-associated memory impairment. US7351736 discloses methods for producing a physiologically acceptable ketosis to treat a patient in need of therapy for one or more of Amylotrophic lateral sclerosis, Free Radical disease, Heart failure and Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. US20120252902A discloses methods for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and related CNS disorder symptoms of impaired learning, impaired planning, impaired problem solving, impulsiveness attention deficit and aggression by administering a ketogenic material in amounts sufficient to produce a ketosis. US20080249173A1 discloses methods for treating a patient suffering from apoptosis of tissue by administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more ketogenic compounds such that a physiological ketosis is produced sufficient to arrest said apoptosis. These therapies are only beneficial if the animal has a ketogenic metabolism. Therefore, it is important to be able to determine if an animal has a ketogenic metabolism.
[0004] Current methods for determining if an animal's metabolism is ketogenic involve using urine strips to check for ketonuria, i.e., checking for ketone bodies such as acetone in the urine. However, the concentration of ketone bodies in the urine varies depending on the animal,
the animal' age, the animal's health, the environment, and the like. Merely determining the concentration of ketone bodies for an animal and comparing the concentration to known standard values is often inconclusive and can lead to a misdiagnosis that has adverse consequences on an animal's health. There is, therefore, a need for new methods for determining if an animal's metabolism is ketogenic.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide methods for determining if an animal's metabolism is ketogenic.
[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide methods for evaluating the affect of a comestible composition on the ketogenic status of an animal.
[0007] It is a further object of the invention to provide methods for evaluating the affect of a diet on the ketogenic status of an animal.
[0008] One or more of these and other objects are achieved using novel methods for determining if an animal's metabolism is ketogenic and/or evaluating the affect of a comestible composition or diet on the ketogenic status of an animal. These methods involve collecting a urine sample from the animal at two different times, determining the concentration of beta-
hydroxy butyrate in the two urine samples, and making conclusions regarding the animal's ketogenic status and/or the affect of a comestible composition or diet on such status based upon the difference between the beta hydroxybutyrate concentrations for the two samples.
[0009] Other and further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.