Sugar and muscle catabolism

So as I understand it ingesting protein promotes protein re-synthesis in the body, which under caloric surplus conditions would result in muscle hypertrophy.

Competing with this is muscle/protein catabolism, which is not affected by protein intake (as I understand it). Rather it is affected by the presence of blood glucose. Ingest glucose = inhibit muscle/protein catabolism.

So if I understand it correctly, how do people on very low carbohydrate/ketogenic diets put significant amounts of muscle? I understand the body has other pathways to produce glucose but is it really enough to inhibit muscle catabolism?

I'd post this on weightlifting forums but I find that people on weightlifting forums sometimes have no idea what they are talking about and talk like they know it all but can't back up their responses.

I'm hoping someone here (melkor?) could let me know whether my understanding is incorrect or if it is correct how it is that people under ketogenic states put on muscle.

Thanks for the responses in advance.

Not sure if this strictly answers your question but it may answer some of it.

http://eatingacademy.com/how-a-low-carb-diet- affected-my-athletic-performance

This physician has basically been in "ketosis" for over a year and still does some kick a** workouts!

I was enjoying the reading until I found that he is close to Mr. Taubes, who is one of my least respected "scientists" in the world. A true master of data fabrication and "molding" and "cherry-picking" data to fit his "conclusions".

That really turned me off from reading any further. Though I didn't really a find an answer to my question anyway.

But I do appreciate the link.

Original Post by armandounc:

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So if I understand it correctly, how do people on very low carbohydrate/ketogenic diets put significant amounts of muscle? I understand the body has other pathways to produce glucose but is it really enough to inhibit muscle catabolism?

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If they do it, I don't understand it either. I have a stack of scientific papers that show carbs protect you from burning protein for fuel. The examples in those papers are related to high caloric burns though. In a nutrition book that I have, it mentions the "protein sparing effect" of carbs as well, and that is for people who aren't necessarily exercising at all.

Maybe it is different if a person just lifts, and eats a caloric surplus via tons of protein.  It might not matter that they burn some of the protein off for energy. Their sweat will smell like ammonia though.

Well, he does a lot of his own research so I don't think you can hold his association with Mr. Taubes against him.  Plus you can't really argue with his results.  Not saying this is for everyone, but it's working for him.   I think some people can deal with carbs better than others.  He actually keeps his protein down to around 1.5 gm/kg to keep himself in ketosis.  He says if he goes with higher protein it throws him out.  His diet is mainly fat.

Right but he is doing cardio. What he is doing has nothing to do with muscle hypertrophy. That's what I'm curious about.

I know you can get energy for exercise from fat/protein.