ketone body

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Word: Ketone Body

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A ketone body is a type of chemical that is produced when the body breaks down fats for energy. There are three main types of ketone bodies: acetoacetic acid, acetone, and beta-hydroxybutyric acid. These compounds can be found in large amounts in the blood and urine, especially in people who have certain health conditions, like diabetes or metabolic disorders.

Usage Instructions:

• Context: "Ketone bodies" are often discussed in the context of health, nutrition, and metabolism.
• When to Use: You can use the term when talking about how the body processes fats, especially in relation to dieting, diabetes, or exercise.

Example Sentence:

• "When someone follows a low-carbohydrate diet, their body may start to produce ketone bodies for energy instead of glucose."

Advanced Usage:

• In medical contexts, you might say, "The presence of elevated ketone bodies in the urine can indicate that a patient is experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis."

Word Variants:

• Ketone: This is a broader term that refers to any type of compound containing a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to two other carbon atoms.
• Ketogenic: This term describes a diet that encourages the production of ketone bodies by drastically reducing carbohydrate intake.

Different Meanings:

• In general chemistry, "ketone" refers to the entire class of compounds, while "ketone body" specifically refers to those produced during fat breakdown.

Synonyms:

• There aren't exact synonyms for "ketone body," but you might encounter phrases like "fat breakdown product" or "metabolic byproduct" in related discussions.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that include "ketone body," as it is a technical term primarily used in scientific or medical discussions.

Summary:

A "ketone body" is an important concept in understanding how the body uses fats for energy, especially in different health conditions.

Academic

Noun

1. a ketone that is an intermediate product of the breakdown of fats in the body; any of three compounds (acetoacetic acid, acetone, and/or beta-hydroxybutyric acid) found in excess in blood and urine of persons with metabolic disorders

Synonyms

• acetone body