Ketosis vs. Autophagy — What's the Difference?

Ketosis is a metabolic state characterized by elevated levels of ketone bodies in the blood or urine. Physiologic ketosis is a normal response to low glucose availability, such as low-carbohydrate diets or fasting, that provides an additional energy source for the brain in the form of ketones.

Autophagy (or autophagocytosis) (from the Ancient Greek αὐτόφαγος autóphagos, meaning "self-devouring" and κύτος kýtos, meaning "hollow") is the natural, conserved degradation lysosome-dependent regulated mechanism of the cell that removes unnecessary or dysfunctional components. It allows the orderly degradation and recycling of cellular components.

A pathological increase in the production of ketone bodies.

The process of self-digestion by a cell through the action of enzymes originating within the same cell.

(pathology) A metabolic state in which the body produces ketones to be used as fuel by some organs so that glycogen can be reserved for organs that depend on it. This condition occurs during times of fasting, starvation, or while on a ketogenic diet.

(cytology) The process of self-digestion by a cell through the action of enzymes originating within the same cell. Often a defensive and/or self-preservation measure.

An abnormal increase of ketone bodies in the blood as in diabetes mellitus

(cytology) A type of programmed cell death accomplished through self-digestion.

(rare) Self-consumption; the act of eating oneself.

The feeding of the body upon itself, as in fasting; nutrition by consumption of one's own tissues.