Posted on 4/6/2016
beta-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is produced along with acetoacetate and acetone during ketosis in carbohydrate deprivation (starvation, digestive disturbances, frequent vomiting), decreased carbohydrate utilization (diabetes mellitus), glycogen storage diseases, and alkalosis.
Acetone usually accounts for only 2% of the total ketone bodies and it’s excreted in the urine or exhaled. Acetoacetate normally accounts for about 20% and could be spontaneously converted to acetone and CO2 or metabolized by into BHB, which accounts for the majority (78%), so it’s the best marker for diagnosis of hiper- or hipo- ketotic state or monitoring therapy for d...