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Ketone Body Transport

Meaning

Ketone Body Transport is the essential physiological process by which the ketone bodies, predominantly beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate, are efficiently moved across cellular membranes, particularly the blood-brain barrier, for use as fuel. This transport is a critical limiting step in the utilization of ketones by extrahepatic tissues, ensuring that the brain and muscle can access this alternative energy source when glucose is scarce. Efficient transport is a hallmark of metabolic flexibility and is essential for realizing the cognitive benefits of ketosis.