Question

What are ketone bodies?

Answer 1

Ketone bodies are three water soluble molecules that are produced by the liver from fatty acids when glucose is not readily available.

Explanation:

Ketones are always present in the blood but their levels rise during periods of low food intake, carbohydrate restrictive diets, starvation, prolonged intense exercises or untreated type 1 diabetes.In the brain, they are a vital source of energy during fasting.

Although termed as "bodies" , they are dissolved substances and not particles. The three endogenous ketone bodies are acetone, acetoacetic acid and beta hydroxy butyric acid. Ketone bodies are synthesised in the liver from acetyl co enzyme A.

Ketone bodies have a characteristic smell, which can easily be detected in the breadth of a person in ketosis and ketoacidosis.