Beta (β)-hydroxybutyrate

Definition

Beta (β)-hydroxybutyrate is a type of ketone body produced by the liver from fatty acids during periods of low food intake, carbohydrate restrictive diets, prolonged intense exercise, or in untreated type 1 diabetes. It serves as an important energy source for the brain and muscles when glucose levels are low.

Related terms

Ketosis: A metabolic state characterized by elevated levels of ketone bodies in the body's tissues, typically induced by fasting, low-carbohydrate diets, or prolonged exercise.

Lipolysis: The breakdown of fats and other lipids by hydrolysis to release fatty acids, which can be converted into ketone bodies like β-hydroxybutyrate.

Gluconeogenesis: A metabolic pathway that results in the generation of glucose from certain non-carbohydrate carbon substrates; it becomes especially important during times when glucose is not readily available from dietary sources