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Ketone Fuel Substrate

Meaning

Ketone Fuel Substrate refers to the group of water-soluble molecules—beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone—that are produced by the liver from fatty acids during periods of carbohydrate restriction or fasting and serve as an alternative energy source for the body. These substrates are particularly significant because they can readily cross the blood-brain barrier, providing an essential and highly efficient fuel source for the central nervous system when glucose availability is limited. Utilizing this fuel substrate demonstrates high metabolic flexibility, a hallmark of robust metabolic health.