| Abstrakt: |
This article presents information on ketone bodies that provide critical fuels for the brain was discovered and its implication for energy metabolism in the human beings. The concept of protein (nitrogen) sparing,which is so fundamental of an integrated view of human metabolism, arose directly from this research. Fuel storage depots, like subcutaneous and abdominal adipose tissue, have a high calorie: weight ratio and are capable of meeting the energy requirements directly or indirectly for most tissues, without adverse effects. As the researchers demonstrated, survival during prolonged starvation depends upon the ability of the body to spare the oxidation of vital proteins in the liver, muscle, heart, kidney and other organs. Of special importance in this regard is the metabolic role of ketone bodies. Because of their association with diabetes, ketone bodies were long held to reflect a disease state; the research totally changed this view. Ketone bodies are synthesized from the acetyl CoA generated by the oxidation of fatty acids in the liver. The fact that a significant portion of the fatty acids mobilized from adipose tissue is converted to ketone bodies for brain metabolism during starvation is significant. |
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