Skip to main content

Ketone Bodies

Meaning

Ketone bodies are water-soluble molecules—specifically beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone—that are produced by the liver during periods of prolonged carbohydrate restriction or fasting. They serve as an alternative, highly efficient fuel source for the brain, heart, and skeletal muscles when glucose availability is significantly low. The presence of these metabolites indicates a beneficial metabolic shift toward fat utilization, a state known as nutritional ketosis.