Ketone bodies are three chemicals that are produced as by-products when fatty acids are broken down for energy.

Contrary to what the name "bodies" may suggest, these are soluble compounds, not particles.

Any production of these compounds is called ketogenesis, and this is necessary in small amounts.

But, when excess ketone bodies accumulate, this abnormal (but not necessarily harmful) state is called ketosis.

When even larger amounts of ketone bodies accumulate such that the body's pH is lowered to dangerously acidic levels, this state is called ketoacidosis..

For more information about the topic Ketone bodies, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:

Fatty acid — A fatty acid is a carboxylic acid (or organic acid), often with a long aliphatic tail (long chains), either saturated or unsaturated. Depending on ...  > read more

Carbohydrate — Carbohydrates are chemical compounds that contain oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon atoms. They consist of monosaccharide sugars of varying chain lengths ...  > read more

Progesterone — Progesterone is a C-21 steroid hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle, pregnancy (supports gestation) and embryogenesis of humans and other ...  > read more

Dementia with Lewy bodies — Dementia with Lewy bodies is the second most frequent cause of hospitalization for dementia, after Alzheimer's disease. Current estimates are that ...  > read more

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