KETONE BODY Meaning and
Definition
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A ketone body refers to a class of compounds produced by the liver as a byproduct of fatty acid metabolism. When glucose levels in the body are low, such as during periods of fasting, prolonged exercise, or when following a low-carbohydrate diet, the liver breaks down stored fats into molecules known as fatty acids. These fatty acids are further broken down through a process called beta-oxidation, resulting in the production of ketone bodies. The three main ketone bodies generated are acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetone.
Ketone bodies serve as an alternative source of energy for certain tissues, particularly the brain, when glucose availability is limited. Unlike fatty acids, which cannot easily cross the blood-brain barrier, ketone bodies are able to reach brain cells and provide them with a vital source of energy during times of glucose scarcity.
Ketone bodies are crucial in maintaining normal physiological functions while the body shifts its primary source of energy from glucose to fats. They are considered an essential element of the body's adaptive metabolic response to prolonged carbohydrate deprivation. The increase in blood ketone levels, known as ketosis, reflects a shift in fuel metabolism and is often associated with weight loss and the therapeutic effects of the ketogenic diet in certain medical conditions.
Excessive ketone body production, however, can occur in uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or conditions like starvation ketoacidosis, leading to an accumulation of ketones in the blood, resulting in potentially harmful acidosis.
Common Misspellings for KETONE BODY
- jetone body
- metone body
- letone body
- oetone body
- ietone body
- kwtone body
- kstone body
- kdtone body
- krtone body
- k4tone body
- k3tone body
- kerone body
- kefone body
- kegone body
- keyone body
- ke6one body
- ke5one body
- ketine body
- ketkne body
Etymology of KETONE BODY
The word "ketone" originates from the German word "Keton", which was coined by the German chemist Leopold Gmelin in 1855. It is believed to have derived from the German word "Aceton" or "Azeton", which refers to a colorless, volatile liquid with a fruity smell. Gmelin used the term "Keton" to describe a chemical compound that exhibits ketone functional group characteristics.
The term "body" in "ketone body" refers to substances that were initially thought to be waste products or byproducts of metabolism. These compounds were found in the blood and urine, leading to their classification as "bodies". Ketone bodies are produced in the liver during the breakdown of fatty acids in a process called ketogenesis. They include acetone, acetoacetate, and β-hydroxybutyrate.
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