ketone
/ˈkiːtoʊn/
Definition
A chemical substance produced by the body when it burns fat for energy instead of glucose, often measured in the blood to assess metabolic health.
Etymology
The term is derived from the German word 'Aketon,' coined by chemist Leopold Gmelin in the mid-19th century. It is a modification of the word 'acetone,' which was the first identified compound of this chemical class.
In the news
In this article, ketones are used alongside glucose to calculate the Glucose Ketone Index (GKI), which helps doctors monitor metabolic states like ketosis to manage chronic diseases. Higher levels of available ketones are associated with improved mitochondrial energy efficiency.
Frontiers in Science: Simple test could help track metabolic health in cancer and chronic disease
Read the full article ↗Frontiers