Consumption of a very low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet is most likely to cause what condition?

The condition most likely to occur from the consumption of a very low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet is ketosis. This physiological state occurs when the body switches from using carbohydrate-derived glucose as its primary energy source to utilizing fat stores for energy. When carbohydrate intake is severely restricted, insulin levels decrease, leading to increased lipolysis (breakdown of fat) and the production of ketone bodies in the liver. These ketones can then be used as an alternative energy source by various tissues, including the brain.

In this dietary context, since carbohydrates are the main macronutrient that influences insulin levels and metabolic pathways, a significant reduction leads to the metabolic shift towards fat utilization. This is the primary mechanism behind ketogenic diets, which are formulated around this principle of inducing ketosis for weight loss or therapeutic purposes.