What are ketones?
Ketone bodies – often called ketones – are molecules the liver produces from fat when carbohydrate intake is very low. The three most important are acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetone.
The brain's alternative fuel
Ketone bodies can cross the blood-brain barrier and be used as energy by the brain. In GLUT1 deficiency syndrome, where glucose transport to the brain is reduced, ketone bodies are a crucial alternative energy source.
Produced in the liver
When the body gets little carbohydrate and sufficient fat, the liver breaks down fatty acids and forms ketone bodies. These are transported via the blood to organs such as the brain, heart and muscles, which can use them as fuel.
Ketones are not dangerous in a therapeutic context
Ketone bodies produced by a therapeutic ketogenic diet are not the same as ketoacidosis, a dangerous condition that can occur with type 1 diabetes. With medical follow-up, ketone levels are kept in a therapeutic, safe range.