Question

In: Biology

Why do ketone bodies accumulate in the blood under starvation conditions?

Why do ketone bodies accumulate in the blood under starvation conditions?

Solutions

Expert Solution

Ketones and ketoacids are alternative fuels for the body that are made when glucose is in short supply. They are made in the liver from the Oxidation or breakdown of fats into acetylCoA which are precursor for ketoneBodies .Ketones are formed when there is not enough sugar or glucose to supply the body’s fuel needs as in case during prolonged starvation  .During starvation period, insulin levels are low, but glucagon and epinephrine levels are relatively normal. This combination of low insulin, and relatively normal glucagon and epinephrine levels causes fat to be released from the fat cells. The fats travel through the blood circulation to reach the liver where they are processed into ketone units. The ketone bodies  then circulate back into the blood stream and are picked up by the muscle and other tissues to fuel our body’s metabolism. Hence, ketone production is the body’s normal adaptation to starvation.


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