What does ketone bodies mean?

Ketone bodies refer to intermediate products of fatty acid oxidation and breakdown in the liver, mainly including three components: acetoacetic acid, β-hydroxybutyric acid, and acetone. These substances normally exist in the blood of healthy individuals at low concentrations and are byproducts of fat metabolism. Ketone bodies play multiple important roles in the human body, such as providing energy, protecting brain function, promoting fat metabolism, and exerting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. When the body is in a state of starvation or when glucose utilization is insufficient due to conditions like diabetes, ketone bodies can serve as a primary energy source, supplying necessary energy to the body. If excessive ketone bodies are produced beyond the body's metabolic capacity, they may accumulate and lead to serious conditions such as ketoacidosis. Therefore, monitoring and managing ketone bodies are of significant importance in the fields of medicine and nutrition.