title: Plasma acetone metabolism in the fasting human.
abstract: The metabolism of acetone was studied in lean and obese humans during starvation ketosis. Acetone concentrations in plasma, urine, and breath; and rates of endogenous production, elimination in breath and urine, and in vivo metabolism were determined. There was a direct relationship between plasma acetone turnover (20-77 mumol/m(2) per min) and concentration (0.19-1.68 mM). Breath and urinary excretion of acetone accounted for a 2-30% of the endogenous production rate, and in vivo metabolism accounted for the remainder. Plasma acetone oxidation accounted for congruent with60% of the production rate in 3-d fasted subjects and about 25% of the production rate in 21-d fasted subjects. About 1-2% of the total CO(2) production was derived from plasma acetone oxidation and was not related to the plasma concentration or production rate. Radioactivity from [(14)C]acetone was not detected in plasma free fatty acids, acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, or other anionic compounds, but was present in plasma glucose, lipids, and proteins. If glucose synthesis from acetone is possible in humans, this process could account for 11% of the glucose production rate and 59% of the acetone production rate in 21-d fasted subjects. During maximum acetonemia, acetone production from acetoacetate could account for 37% of the anticipated acetoacetate production, which implies that a significant fraction of the latter compound does not undergo immediate terminal oxidation.
mesh_terms: D000096:Acetone / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007657:Ketone Bodies / Q000097:blood; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007657:Ketone Bodies; D000096:Acetone; D002245:Carbon Dioxide