Question

Explain what happens to ketone levels in the body after prolonged starvation?

Answer 1

Ketones are water soluble molecules and break down molecule of acetoacetate containing ketone group that are produced by the liver from fatty acids. Ketones are formed when there is not enough sugar or glucose to supply the body's fuel needs. This occur during fasting, starvation and in untreated diabetes mellitus.

Ketones are produced in body when you don't have enough insulin in body to turn Glucose to energy. Body need another source, so it uses fat instead.

In case of prolonged starvation, body changes its metabolism in response of lack of food. The lack of glucose source lead to increased ' level of Ketones' in body. Starvation leads to ketoacidosis in humans.

Glucose can be obtained directly from dietary sugars and by break down of other carbohydrates. In absence of dietary sugars and carbohydrates, Glucose is obtained from the breakdown of stored glycogen. When the glycogen is depleted, glucose are obtained from the adipose tissue, fats are broken down in to glycerol and fatty acids and glycerol are converted to glucose in the liver via gluconeogenesis pathway. When even the Glucose made from the glycerol reserves start declining, the liver start producing ' Ketone bodies'. Ketone are short chain derivative of the free fatty acids. Theses ketones are used as energy source. This ketones are release into blood stream, it is taken by peripheral cells containing mitochondria. This is converted to Acetyl-coA by citric acid cycle. This condition of high level of ketone in blood is called starvation ketoacidosis. The increased leve leads to serious dangerous complications.